UC-NRLF 


$B    113 


•ivJiNi'lSj 


"a 


LIB  R  ARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

GIF^T    OK 


Received 
ccessions  No. 


Shelf  No. 


H -WHIFFLE 


(Uktrkal 


CHICAGO, 


MANUFACTURERS   OF 


BarHnsuIated  Wires^Cables 


Of  Every  Description. 


TEST  INSTRUMENTS, 

CONSTRUCTION  MATERIAL. 


EVERYTHING  REQUIRED  FOR 

Tic  Constriction  or  Operation  of  Electric  Light  Plants. 


W  r  i  t  e  f  o  r  C  a  ta  I  pg  u  es  . 


AN80NIA,  CONN.  ,25  w.  SIXTH  ST.,  KANSAS  CITY. 


The  Best  Lamp ! 


The  Best  Dynamo! 


THE 


MANUFACTURE 


luultuni  ui  ire  Light 

FOR  ISOLATED  PLANTS 


OR  CENTRAL  STATION  USE 


AND 


CITY  OR  MUNICIPAL 
LIGHTING 

CLAIMING 

SUPERIORITY  OVER  OTHER  SYSTEMS 
BECAUSE  OF 

Economy  of  Power. 

Precision  and  Reliability  of  Meas- 
uring Instruments, 

Durability  of  Lamps. 

Absence  of  Discoloration  of  Lamp 
Globes. 

Perfection  and  Automatic  Regulation 

Mechanical  DesignaacfWorkmanship 

Completion  of  Details. 


C.   C. 


MANAGER  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT, 

THE  ROOKERY,  219  LA  SALLE  ST.,  CHICAGO. 

General  Offices,  Equitable  Building,  120  Broadway,  New  York. 

.  ,,,.  STATION  LHiHTINfr  purposes  we  are  furnishing  our  new  and  im- 
proved Alternating  «  nrrwri  s.^t.-m  by  which  lights  can  be  operated  at  long 
distances  from  station,  with  small  cost  for  conductors. 


CENTRAL  ELECTRIC  CO. 

Electric  Supplies  of  every  description  in  stock 
at  bottom  prices. 

WESTERN  4JJSB^         OKONITE 

AGENTS  Wires  and  Cables, 

TRADE   MARK. 

CANDEE  WEATHERPROOF 

Electric  Light  Line  Wire, 

National  and  Sunlight  Carbons 

FOB  ANY  SYSTEM. 

Butler  Hard  Eubber  Go's  productions  of 

Tubins   Rod   and   Sheet   Rubber, 

CLEVELAND  INCANDESCENT 

Gang  Switches  |  Arc  Light  Cut  Outs, 

CONSTRUCTION  TOOLS, 

Shovels,    Spoons,    Digging   Bores,    Augers,    Line 
Wire  Reels,  Soldering  Pots,  etc.,  etc. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


HEADQUARTERS     FOR 
l| 


Orders  carefully  and  promptly  executed. 

CENTRAL  ELECTRIC  CO., 

42  LA  SALLE  ST., 

CHICAGO. 


HIGH 

CORLISS   ENGINE 

SHAFT  GOVERNOR  COMBINED  WITH  CORLISS  WRIST-PLATE. 


REGULATION    EOUAL  TO    ANYTHING    IN    Tsi: 


B,  W.PAYNE  &  SONS, 


10  S,  Canal  Street,  CHICAGO,  ILL.    |    45  Dey  Street,    -    -   NEW  YORK. 
HILL,  CLARK  &  CO.,  Boston,  Mass. 

AUTOMATIC  ENSINES  FROM  2  to  200  HOBSE  POWER. 

Municipal 
Electric 

Lighting 
is  Feasible 

and 
Economical 

17 

the  Use  of 

THE  [Electric  Light  Cable,  2  Conductors.    No.  1,  B.  &  S.  G     Full  size.] 


Standard    Underground 
Cable  Company. 

General  Offices,  708  Penn.  Ave.,  PITTSBUSQH,  Pa. 

Branch  Offices-18, 18,  20  Cortland    St..  New  York, 
G.  L.  Wiley.  Man  gr ;  139  E  Madison  St ,  Chi- 
cago, Ills  ,  F   E.  Itesrenhardt,  Man'gr. 
Manufacturers  of  tl  e  Waring  Anti-Induction 
and  liunehcd  Cables  'or  Telegraph,  Telephone, 
). let-trie   Light  and  Power;    Undei ground,  Sub- 
marine and  Aerial. 


Wiatiirpnof  Line  Wire.  W,  A,  C,  Fire  &  Waterproof  Wire, 


\  V\i\\  size  of  No  1.  standard  \\>.,the  -proof  Line  Wire 


FIVE 

YEA2S  OF 
UNIF02M 
SUCCESS. 
•  :zdence 
Solicited. 


THE 


fan  Bepoele  Sj stem  of  Electric  light! 

IS   SPECIALLY    ADAPTED   FOB 

MUNICIPAL  LIGHTING. 

THE  ONLY  PERFECT  DOUBLE  CARBON  LAMP  IN  THE  WORLD, 


VAN  DEPOELE  APPARATUS 

Requires  the  Least  Attention. 
Is  Self-Regulating  and  Simple. 

No  Cumbersome  and  Unsightly  Attachments. 
No  Danger  from  Handling. 

Largest  Light  for  Smallest  Power. 


The  Van  Depoele  System  has  by  actual  test  shown  that 
its  lamps  light  the  largest  area  of  any  lamp  in  existence, 
and  with  the  smallest  proportionate  consumption  of 
power.  It  is  specially  adapted  for  Street  Lighting.  Our 
references  are  all  who  have  ever  seen  them. 

3,500  LAMPS  NOW   IN   USE. 


For  Catalogues  and    Information  addres 


VAN  DEPOELE  ELECTRIC  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY, 

15,  17,  19  &  21   No.  Clinton  St.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


RDSSELL  &  CO. 

MASSILLON,  OHIO, 


liOILKKS.  KTC. 

Complete  Power  Plants  Furnished 
and  Erected, 


SEISTID     IF  O  R-     O  .A.  T  _A_  H,  O  <3-  TJ  !EJ 


The  Clark  Electric  Co, 


NEW  YORK 


Just  tin-  thing  for  shifting:  Dyna- 
mo Belts.     Holds  belt  at  rest 
and  relieves  tension.    Sim- 
ple and  Cheap. 

LYKN,  MASS.,  March  S,  's:.. 
W.  R.  SANTLET  &  Co. : 

Gentlemen- After  subjecting  one  of  the 
Wellington  Belt  Holders  to  the  test  of  over 
a  year's  practical  use  in  our  testlnpr  room, 
we  were  so  well  satisfied  that  we  have  re- 
cently purchased  five  more  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. We  can  cheerfully  recommend  the 
holder  as  being  a  reliable,  efficient  and  at 
the  same  time  inexpensive  article. 
Yours  respectfully, 

THOMSON-HOUSTON  ELKC.  Co. 

The  above  are  sending  us  repeated  orders, 
and  reci-ntly  ordered  a  Holder  for  shifting 
a  belt  from  a  ninety-six  inch  by  twelve 
driving  pulley. 


Circulars  and  further  information  will  be  furnished  by 

W.  R.  SANTLEY  &  CO., 

WELLINGTON,  OHIO. 


250  HORSE  POWER   HEINE  SAFETY   BOILER. 


Are  in  Use  in  the  following  Electric  Light  Plants: 


Allegheny  County  Light  Co., 
Boston  Edison  Station  No.  2,          . 

Chicago  Edison  Co., 

McVicker's  Theatre 

Interstate  Exposition, 

Minneapolis  Industrial  Exposition,     . 
Forest  City  Electric  Light  and  Power  Co., 
Colorado  Electric  Co.,          .... 

St.  Louis  Exposition, 

Brush  Electric  Light  &  Power  Co., 
Little  Rock  Electric  Light  Co. ,         . 
Columbus  Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.,     . 
Roe  Building, 


Pittsburgh,  Pa. 
Boston,  Mass. 
Chicago,  Ills. 


Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Rockford,  111. 

Denver,  Col. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

.     Galveston,  Tex. 

Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Columbus,  O. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 


For  Full  Description  and  Prices  write  to 

HEINE   SAFETY   BOILER   C 


o 


1O2  North  Main  Street,  ST.  LOUIS,  Mo. 

82  Madison  Street,  CHICAGO,  Ills. 

35  Oliver  Street,  BOSTON,  Mass. 


THE  THOMSON- HOUSTON 


MANUFACTURERS   OP 


ELECTRIC  LIGHT  MACHINERY 

Arc  and  Incandescent 

DYNAMOS  AND  MOTORS. 


CONSTRUCTORS    OF 


Electric  Railways  and  Trami ays. 


178  Devonshire  St.,  BOSTON,  MASS, 

Pullman  Building,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 
115  Broadway,  NEW  TOEK, 

Kimball  House  Build'g.  ATLANTA,  GA. 


The 


Waterhouse  System 


WATERHOUSE  ELECTRIC 
&  MFG.  CO., 

sri'EiUORITY   OP 

ELECTRICAL 

APPARATUS 


GOLD 


MEDAL. 


3?OWER. 

CV11E  guarantee  that  our  Standard  2000  c.  p.  Light 
can  be  produced  on  .75  H.  P.  each,  and  that 
it  will  successfully  compete  with  any  2000  c.  p.  light 
in  the  world  for  Size,  Color  and  Steadiness.  We 
guarantee  to  produce  a  light  one-third  larger  than 
standard  1200  c.  p.  lights  on  same  power  that  said 
1 200  c.  p.  lights  require. 


[REGULATION. 

E  guarantee  Instantaneous  Automatic  Regula- 
tion so  perfect  that  lights  can  be  turned  out 
and  power  reduced,  and  that  one  light  can  be  main- 
tained on  our  largest  dynamo  24  hours  or  longer 
without  heating  the  machine. 


SEND  FOR  CATALOGUE. 


TheWaterhouse  Electric  &  Mfg.  Co, 

HARTFORD,  CONN. 


10 
TH! 


Baldwin  Gas  Engine 


The  Simplest,  most  Efficient,  and  Steadily 

Running  Gas  Engine  ever  built. 

Adapted  for 


And  all  Industrial    Purposes. 

Brotlxoirs  eft?  Oo. 

Elevators  and  Hoisting  Machinery, 

38    PARK    ROW,  NEW    YORK. 

-THE 


BISHOP  GUTTA  PERCHA  CO. 

420-426  East  25th  St.,  N.  Y., 

MAKE  A  SPECIALTY  OF 
FOR  EVERY  ELECTRICAL  PURPOSE. 


have  the  oldest  establishment  in  the  U.  S.,  and 
the  best  experts  for  this  business.  We  do  not 
make  any  kind  of  Undertaker's  wire,  but  thoroughly 
Water-Proof,  Fire-Proof,  Acid-Proof  and  Aikili-Proof  Wires  and 
Cables.  Our  Cutta  Percha  Sub  Aqueous  Cables,  Balata  Flexible 
Cords  and  India  Rubber  insulation  for  general  use  are  unex- 
celled. Tell  us  your  difficulties  and  \ve  \vill  try  to 
overcome  them. 

HENRY  A,  REED,  Secretary  and  Manager. 


11 


The  Pond  Engineering  Company, 

ENGINEERS  AND  CONTRACTORS  OF 

STEAM  AND  HYDRAULIC  MACHINERY, 

ARE  PREPARED  TO  FURNISH  AND  ERECT 

COMPLETE  STEAM  PLANTS  for 


ELECTRIC  LIGHT  and  POWER, 


T^ 

•** 


NGINKS,     BOILERS,     FURNACES,     GRATES,     HEATERS,     PUMPS, 
INJECTORS,    PIPE  WORK,  VALVES,  BELTING,  Etc. 

Also  to  Deliver  and  Erect  same,  including  Foundations,  Brickwork.  Pipe  Fitt  ng,  etc  ,  the 

whole  delivered  to  purchaser  ready  for  service.    This  work  is  in  charge 

of  Experienced  Engineers,  and  particular  attention  is  paid  to 


ECONOMY  OF  FUEL. 


SIMPLICITY  OF  CONSTRUCTION. 


EASE  OF  OPERATION. 


©THE  recent  great  Developments  in  the  uses  of  Dynamo  Electricity  for  Illumination 
^  and  for  Power,  have  led  us  to  devote  special  attention  to  the  Design  and  Erection 
of  Steam  Plants  for  this  class  of  service.  In  order  to  be  commercially  successful, 
such  a  plant  should  include  the  most  recent,  improvements,  and  be  in  accordance 
with  the  best  engineering  practice  of  the  day.  Having  made  a  specialty  of  this  class 
of  work  for  years,  we  ar«  prepared  to  guarantee  satisfaction. 


Exposition  and  Music  Hall  Association,  St.  Louis. 
J.  Kennard  &  Sons  Carpet  Co.,  .         " 

Public  School  Library*  .     " 

St.  Louis  Sugar  Refinery,  .        .         " 

Thomson-Houston  Rlectric  Co.,        .        .     " 

Pope's  Theatre, 

Grand  Opera  House,  .        .        .        .     " 

"  Globe  Democrat,"         ....         " 

"  Westliche  Post," " 

M.  A.  Seed  Dry  Plate  Co.,       ..." 
The  "Grand  '  Billiard  Hall.     ..." 
U.  S.  Steamer  "  Mississippi," 
N.  K.  Fairbank  &  Co.,  .     " 

Burrell,  Comstock  &  Co 

Hotel  Beers, ' 

John  Plate  &  Co.,  Electro  Depos.,  South  St.  Louis. 
University  of  Kansa-1,          .         Lawrence,  Kan 
Western  Br.  Soldiers'  Home.  Leavenworth,     ' 
Kansas  Penitet.t  ary,       .        .         Lansing,     " 
Kansas  Insane  Asylum,       .        .      Topeka,     " 
Edison  Illuminating  Co.,        .  " 

Water,  Light  and  TeL  Co  ,  Hutchinson,  " 
Great  Bend  Electric  L.  Co.,  Great  Bend,  " 
Abilene  Water  and  El.  L.  Co.,  Abilene,  " 

Parsons  Light  and  Heat  Co. ,  .  Parsons,  " 
Mendota  Electric  Light  Co.,  .  Mendota,  Ills. 
Western  Nail  Co..  .  .  .  Belleville,  " 
Jersey  ville  El.  L.,Gas  A:  Power  Co.,Jersevvil!e,' 
Olney  Edison  Electric  Light  Co.,  Gluey.  " 
Jenney  El.  L.  and  Power  Co.,  . 


Vincennes  tL  L.  &  Power  Co,       Vincennes,  Ind. 
•'Times'1  Building,       .        .       Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Dime  Museum,  "  " 
Grand  Missouri  Hotel,         .                   .... 
Metropolitan  Railway  Co.,                       "          " 
Rona  Venture  Luilding,       .                   "          " 
Grand  Ave.  Cable  Railway,     . 
National  Agricultural  Exposition,        "          " 
Kansas  City  Cable  Railway  Co  ,              "  " 
Warder  Grand  Opera  House,         .       "          " 
Thomson  Houston  El  Light  Co.,  St.  Josei  h,  " 
Union  Railway  Co.,           ..."           " 
State  Lunatic  Asylum,        .        .         {-'ultor, " 
State  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute,       .       "         " 
State  University,       .        .        .       Columbia, " 
Electric  Light  and  Power  Co.,      .       Mexico,  " 
Nevada  Electric  Light  Co.,         .         Nevada," 
Greely  Electric  Light  Co.,       .        Greeley,  Colo. 
Holden  Smt-lting  Co.,    .        .        .    Denver,     " 
Electric,  Gas  Light  and  Fuel  Co.,  Laramie,  Wyo. 
Davenp.  rt  Gas  Light  Co.,     .     Davenport,  Iowa. 
Capital  City  Klectric  Light  Co.,  Des  Moines,    " 
Oskaloosa  Gas  Light  Co  ,       .       Oskaloosa,    " 
Ottumwa  Water  Works,       .         Ottumwa,    " 
Austin  Water,  L.  &  Power  Co  ,     .     Austin,  Tex. 
Edison  lluminating  Co.,    .        .      Palestine,  " 
1'ai-is  Gas  and  Electric  Light  Co.,         Paris,  " 
Water  and  Electric  L.  Co. .     Nebraska  City,  Neb. 
Gas  and  Electric  Light  Co.,      .       Fremont,  " 
Foit  Wayne,  Ind. 


CORRESPONDENCE:   SOLICITED. 

POND  ENGINEERING  COMPANY 

707  and  709  Market  Street,  ST.  LOUIS,  Mo. 

KRANCH:     Room  :il.  Water  Works  IJuilding,  6OO  Walnut  Street, 


KANSAS    CITY.    MIL 

I 


12 

CHAS.  K.  WEAD,   President.  H.  M.  LINNELL,  General  Manager. 

THE  HARTFORD  DYNAMIC  CO, 

CONTRACTORS  AND  EXPERTS 
FOR  ELECTRICAL  AND  STEAM  PLANTS 


THE   RUSSELL  ENGINE  PLANS,    SPECIFICATIONS, 

AND 

EXPERT  ADVICE 

ON 

ELECTRIC   LIGHTING 

Furnished  For 

CITY    COUNCILS 

GIVES  THE  BEST  SATISFACTION.  OR     LOCAL     COMPANIES, 


253MainSt.      HARTFORD,     CONN.      263  Main  St. 

UNDERGROUND 

Electric*  Light  -Wires 

ARC  or  INCANDESCENT, 

Solid  or  Drawing  in  System,  as  Laid  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. ,  Cin- 
cinnati, 0.,  Brockton,  Mass.,  Detroit,  Midi.,  Boston,  Mass., 
Columbus,  Ohio.,  San  Francisco,  Gal.,  &c.,  &c. 

BITITE    WIRES   for  Damp  places. 
TRINIDAD   WIRES  for  Pole  or  Overhead  lines. 


SEND  FOR  SAMPLES  AND  PRICES. 


CALLENDER  INSULATING  &  WATERPROOFING  CO, 

45  BROADWAY,  N.  Y. 
CHICAGO.       BOSTON.        LONDON.  England.        BKUSSEL8,  Belgium. 


|jj£echanical  ^ngineer  »  Contractor 

Room  436,  "The  Rookery," 
CHICAGO. 

Makes  a  specialty  of  the  Installation  of  Complete  Steam  Plants,  in  connection  with 
the  Engines  manufactured  by  A.  L.  Ide  &  Son,  Springfield,  111.    These  Engines  are 
designed  especially  for  Electee  Lighting  Service,  and  are  recommended  by  all 
Electric  Companies.    Estimates  cheerfully  furnished.    Correspondence  solicit- 
ed.     Parties  visiting  the  city  on  business  connected  with  Electric  Lighting 
will  find  my  office  centrally  located,  and  are  invited  to  make  it  head- 
quarters.   It  is  in  the  same  building  with  the  U.  8.  Co.,  across  the 
street  from  the  Edison  Co.,  and  within  five  minutes'  walk 
of  the  T.-H.  Co.,  the  Excelsior  Co.,  and  the  Brush  Co. 


14 

H.  G.  CHENEY,  Pres.         M.  S.  CHAPMAN,  Vice-Pres.          ROBERT  CHENEY,  Sec.  and  Treas. 
N.  T.  PULSIFER,  Gen'l  Manager.         WM.  A   ANTHONY,  Consulting  Electrician. 


THE 


Goran. 


NEW  York  Office,  36  Broadway, 
Chicago  Office,  38  La  Sails  St, 
Boston  Office,  IDS  Summer  St, 

Cincinnati  Office;  Carlisle  Building, 


The  Mather  System  for  Incandescent  Lighting 


HE  Dynamos,  of  this  system  are  equal  to  any  in 
efficiency.      The   lamps  are  adapted   to  a  higher 
potential   than  those  of  any  other  system,  have 
no  superior  in  life  or  efficiency,  and 

Do  Not  Blacken  in   Use. 

Our  Dynamo  is  very  simple  in  construction,  runs 
without  sparks  at  the  commutators  and  can  be  oper- 
ated by  any  one  accustomed  to  the  care  of  engines  or 
machinery.  The  system  has  no  equal  for  mills, 
machine  shops,  or  other  places  requiring  isolated 
plants.  We  shall  be  pleased  to  furnish  estimates  for 
complete  installations,  with  or  without  motive  power, 
and  will  send  one  of  our  experts  to  examine  the 
premises,  if  necessary. 


The  Electrical 
Construction  Co. 


IF  you  want  any  Electrical  work  done,  write  us  and 
get  our  prices  and  catalogue.      We  are  furnishing 
the  best  residences  built  with  all  kinds  of  Electri- 
cal Appliances.      We  make  a  specialty  of  wiring  new 
buildings  for  Incandescent  lights.    Contracts  taken  for 
erecting  Electric  Light  Plants  complete. 


HOLMES,  BOOTH  &  HAYDENS, 

25  PARK  PLACE,  NEW  YORK. 


BARE  and  INSULATED  WIRE. 


feppar  Map*  Wto,  Flattie  Wk  ui  W«ntod  0«*  for  iMutoeMt  Lfgfchg. 
iMtati  IBM  PRHKTO  Wire,  Fatatei  Buied  Copper  Lighting  Protector  Win. 
LM*  Omrai  Otpper  Wire  for  iMlfc  VM. 

Soud  tad  FUt  Copper  Ban.  for  etation  woric 

AGENTS    FOR 

SOLID  CARBONS  FOR  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING. 


PATENT    'K.  K."   LINE   WIRE, 

BOB  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING, 

TELEGRAPH  AND  TELEPHONE. 


J.  L  BARCLAY,  Selling  Ageat,  1§§  Dcmrborn  Street,  Chie^o,  21L 
TE05.  L.  800TILLE,  Vev  York  Agent. 

FACTOBIE8:  Waterbory.  Conn. 


16 
THE 


1NSULA.TION  GUARANTEED  WHEREVER   USED,  AERIAL, 
UNDERGROUND    OR    SUBMARINE. 


In  a  letter  from  the  Inspector  of  the  Boston  Fire  Underwriters'  Union, 
under  date  of  March  29,  1886,  he  says:  "A  Thoroughly  Reliable  and  Desir- 
able Wire  in  Every  Respect." 

The  rubber  used  in  insulating  our  wires  and  cables  is  specially  chemically  pre- 
pared, and  is  guaranteed  to  be  ivaterproof,  and  will  not  deteriorate,  oxidize  or 
crack,  and  will  remain  flexible  in  extreme  cold  weather,  and  not  affected  by  heat. 
The  insulation  is  protected  from  mechanical  injury  by  one  or  more  braids  and  the 
whole  slicked  with  Clark's  Patent  Compound,  which  is  water,  oil.  acid  and,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  fire-proof.  Our  insulation  will  prove  durable  when  all  others  fail. 
We  are  prepared  to  furnish  Single  Wires  of  all  gauges  and  diameter  of  insulation 
for  Telegraph,  Telephone  and  Electric  Lights  from  stock.  Cables  made  to  order. 


Eastern  Electric  Cable  Comp'y 

61  and  63  Hampshire  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 

HENRY  A.  CLARK,  General  Manager.  HERBERT  H.  EUSTIS,  Electrician. 


THE 

ECLIPSE 
FRICTION 
CLUTCH 

NOW  doing    Heaviest  Service   in 
the  Largest  ELECTRIC  LIGHT 
PLANTS.    Sold  on  its  Merits.    Send 
for  Catalogue. 

Eclipse  Wind  Engine  Go. 

BELOIT,  AVIS. 


Iks  hrkv-Euidk 


Jo 


ADAPTED  TO  ALL  SYSTEMS. 


CITY  OFFICE: 


711  Pine  St.,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


IT 
THE 

IJ 


FORT    WAYNE,    !ND.7 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


Our  Dynamos  are  Simple,  Compact  and  Durable. 

Our  Lamps  are  perfectly  Automatic 

and  Self-Regulating. 


WE  MANUFACTURE  AND  CONTROL  THE 


*  Slattery  Induction  System  * 

The  most  Scientific  and  Complete  Alternating 
System  in  existence. 


Armatures  &  Converters  Guaranteed. 


For  Catalogues  and  Estimates  address 

Fort  Wayne  "Jenney"  Electric  Light  Co., 

General  Office  and  Worts,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 


New  York  Office  :    242  and  244  E.  i22d  St.,  New  York  Electric  Construction  Co. 
Chicago^  Office :    225  Dearborn  St.,  W.  J.  Buckley,  Manager. 

Philadelphia  Office;    26  N.  7th  St.,  G.  A.  Wilbur,  Manager. 

Mexico  Office  :     Mexico  City,  F.  Adam,  Successors. 


18 


ANSONIA  BRASS  &  COPPER  CO 


Sole  Manufacturers  of  COWLES'   PATENTED 


FIRE-PROOF  AND  WEATHER-PROOF 

Electric  Light  Line  Iff  ire 


CUT  SHOWING  STYLE  OP  INSULATION. 

A. — Copper  wire. 

B.  J?.—  Two  Braids  saturated  with  Fire-Proof  Insulation. 

C.— Braided  Cotton,  saturated  with  a  Black,  WEATHER-PROOF  Composition. 


Samples    furnished    upon  application.      Pure   Electric 

Copper  Wire,  Bare  and  Covered,  of 

Every  Description. 

Wareroois,  19  &  21  Cliff  St.,  New  York,     64  Washington  St.,  Chicago,  111, 

FACTORIES,  ANSONIA,  CONN. 

SAWYER-MAN  ELECTRIC  CO. 

Commercial   Agent   of 

THE  CONSOLIDATED  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO. 


The  Best  Lamp, 

The  Best  Dynamo, 
The  Best  Installation 

The  Best  System  of 
Isolated  Incandescent  Electric 

Lighting  in  the  Market. 


General  Offices  and  Factory,       510-534  West  23d  Street, 
NEW    YORK. 


19 


1S2O. 


ALFRED  F.  MOORE, 


200  &  202  N,  Third  St,  and  301  &  303  Race  St., 
PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


Single,  Doable,  Triple  and  Quadruple  Covered 

wire,  for  Armatures  and  Field  Magnets  of 

Dynamo- Electric  Machines  and  Motors. 
Flat.  Square   or   Rectangular  Wire,  Single  or 

Double  Covered. 
Silk  and  Cotton  Magnet  Wire,  Single  or  Double 

Covered. 

Electric  Light  Line  Wire. 
Underwriters'  Wire.       Weatherproof  Wire. 
Lead-foaaaed  Electric  Light  Wire. 
Flexible  Electric  Light  Wire. 
Lead-Encased  Wires  and  Cable?. 
Anti-Induction  Telephone  Cables. 
( )flice  and  Tower  Cable-?.      Rubber  Tape  Cables. 
Overhead,  Underground  and  Sub-Marine  Cables. 
OfHce  Wire,  Single  and  Double  Conductor. 
Annunciator  and  Burglar  Alarm  Wires,  Single, 

Double  and  Triple  Covered. 
(ias  Fixture  Wire,  Triple  Covered. 
Gas  Fixture  Wire,  Inner  Wrap  Silk. 
Lead-Encased  Wires,  for  Burglar  Alarms,  Call 

Bells  and  Gas  Lighting. 
Leading  and   Connecting  Wire  and  Cable,  for 

Blasting. 


German  Silver  Resistance  Wire,  Single  or  Double 

Covered;  Silk  or  Cotton. 
Bare  Copper  and  German  Silver  Wire. 
Swedish  and  Charcoal  Iron  Wire,  Bright  or 

Tinned,  Bare  or  Covered,  for  Motors. 
Double  Braided  Galvanized  Iron  Line  Wire, 

Weatherproof  or  Plain  Insulation. 
Hard-Drawn  Copper  Underwriters'  Wire . 
Hard-Drawn  Copper  Weatherproof  Wire. 
Insulated  Pressure  Wire. 
Phosphor  Bronze,  Hard  Copper  and  Steel  Wire. 

Bare  and  Insulated,  for  Accoastic  Telephones 
Electrolier  Wire. 
Flexible  Electric  Cordage. 
Incandescent  Lamp  Cord,  Balata  Insulation 

and  Rubber  Insulation. 
Elevator  Signal  Cables  and  Lamp  Cables. 
Arc  Lamp  and  Shunt  Cords. 
Telephone  Cords  and  Switch  Cords. 
Push  Button,  Pole  and  Battery  Cords. 
Twisted  Tinsel  Coni  and  Wire  Tinsel  Cord,  Silk 

and  Cotton  Covered,  for  Metrical  Batteries. 
Dentil  and  Motor  Cords,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 


American  Conduit!  Construction  Co. 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

CARBONIZED  STONE  CONDUITS 


Instate  Street,  Room  42, 


BOSTON,  MASS, 


fC  FACTORY,  NEPONSET  AVENUE,  WARD  83. 


20 

COMPLETE  STEAM  PLANTS 

UNDER 
ONE  RESPONSIBILITY. 


ngfatwrmj     0, 


BOSTON,  NEW  YORK,  CHICAGO, 

61   Oliver  St.  1O9  Liberty  St.  81  Lake  St. 

MAKE  A  SPECIALTY  OP 


TEAM  PLANT; 


FOR 


Electric  Lighting  and  Power  Stations 


COMPRISING 


ARMINGTON  AND  SIMS'  ENGINES, 
JARVIS  FURNACES,  ETC. 


ENSURING 


Economical  Production  of  Power, 
Steadiness  of  Lights, 

Durability  of  Plant. 


Send  for  Circulars  and  References. 


21 


Tie  National  Feefl-ffater  Heater. 


Over  100,000  Horse  Power 

IN    USE    IN    THE    UNITED 
STATES. 


Electric  Light  Stations 


PRICES  LOW. 

SATISFACTION  DNIYERSAL, 


Seventeen  sizes  manufactur'd 

6  to  2,000  Horse  Power 

Capacity. 

Heats  the  Water  for  the  Boil 
era  up  to  206°  to  212°  F. 


Send  for  List  of  User:  and     DFtlP  |P/PE 
Examine  for  Yourself. 


THE  NATIONAL  PIPE  BENDING  CO. 

84  River  Street,  NEW  HAVEN,  CONN. 

CLEVERLY  ELECTRICAL  WORKS. 


ELECTRICAL  SUPPLY  MAKERS, 


22 
THE 


Hussey  Re-Heater 


STEAM  PLANT  IMPROVEMENT  Co. 

15  CORTLANDT  STREET, 

A.  S.  HATCH,  President. 

S.  D.  BREWER,  General  Manager.  |\j  £  W        YORK 

LEVI  HUSSEY,   Engineer. 


Consulting    and    Practical    Experts    in    all    matters    pertaining    to 
Steam,  and  its  application  to   Power,  Heat  and  Ventilation. 


Designing,  Remodeling  and   Improving  Steam  Plants  for  Office 

Buildings,  Stores,  Apartment  Houses,  Hotels,  Manu- 

facturing  Establishments,  and 


SOLE  PROPRIETORS  OF  THE 


FOR 
Re-Heating  Exhaust  Steam, 

Super-Heating  Live  Steam, 

and   Heating  Air  and  Water, 

Without  Cost  for  Fuel, 

BY  THE  USE  OF  WHICH 

An  Economy  of  from  25  to  50  per  cent,  with  Increased  Effici- 

ency at  the  Reduced  Cost,  can  be  ensured  in  any  Steam 

Plant  to  which  it  is  applied  ;    and  the 

Exhaust  Steam  of  Electric  Light  Plants  can  be  Con- 

verted into  an  Important  Source 

of  REVENUE. 


23 


The  E.  S.  GREEELY  &  CO. 

Successors  to  L.  G.  TLLLOTSON  &  CO., 

MANUFACTURERS. 


IMPORTERS. 


5  and  7  DEY  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


ATBTON  A  PEBBT'S  VOLT 

and  AM-METEBS.  CABPEXTIEB'S  TOLT  anil  AM-METERS. 

LINE  Material,  Station  Equipments,  Construction  Tools.  Everything  that  is  neces- 
sary for  Installations  and  Maintenance  kept  constantly  in  stock.  Telegraph, 
Telephone  and  General  Electrical  Supplies.  Incandescent  Lamps  for  Battery  Use. 
Wholesale  Agents  for  Fletcher's  Gem  Wire  Holders  and  Sleet-Proof  Pulleys,  Cleve- 
land's Gang  Switches  and  Arc  Light  Cut-Outs.  Scientific  Electrical  Measurement 
Apparatus.  General  Agents  for  the  Standard  Electrical  Test  Instruments  of  the 
Electric  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Troy. 

American  Leather  Link  Belt  Co. 


A  New  Article 

MADE  OF  SMALL 

LEATHER 

LINKS. 

SPECIALLY  ADAPTED    FOR 


USE  ON 

J2)YNAMOS 

ENDORSED  BY 

ALL  PBOMINENT 
ELEOTEIOIANS 

«Sfe    Co. 

MANUFACTURERS  AND  SOLE  AGENTS. 

86  Federal  Street,  BOSTON. 

47-31    Ferry  Street,  NEW  YORK. 

46  South  Canal  Street,  CHICAGO. 

416  Arch  Street,  PHILADELPHIA. 


Invite  special  attention 
to  their 

"Belt  Controller" 

(A.8  shown  in  cut.) 

Applicable  to  any  form 

of  DYNAMO. 

BELT  TIGHTENERS 


The  AMERICAN  TOOL  AND  MACHINE  CO. 

ENGINEERS,  FOUNDERS  AND  MACHINISTS, 
84  Kingston  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 

QUARTER   TURNS 

F'or  Angular  Running  Belts. 

ALSO  THEIR 

"  Friction  Cnt-Off  Couplings," 

SHAFTING, 

Hangers  and 
Pulleys  of 
Neat  and 
Modern 

Designs 
and  Especially 
Adapted  to 

Electric 
Liglt 


Wort, 

For  Prices,  Drariags,  &c.f  address  the  Company  at  their  office,  84  Kingston  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

The  Schuyler  Electric  Co, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

DYNAMO  MACHINES, 
flfCAKDESCEffE 

This  System  has  the  Most  Perfect 

AUTOMATIC    REGULATOR 


ON  THE  MARKET. 


Write  for  Illustrated  Circulars  and  Estimates, 

THE  SCHUYLER  ELECTRIC  CO. 

MIDDLETOWN,  CONN. 


25 


MAIN  BELTING  COMPANY, 


OZEHO-^Q-O- 


MANUFACTURERS  OF  THE 


The  Best  Belt  for   Dynamos,    Motors, 
and  all  Electrical  Purposes. 

UNEQUALLED  FOR 

Traction-Power, 
Uniformity  and 
Durability. 

MADE  ANY  LENGTH. 
Widths,  1  to  90  inches. 


BELTS  MADE  ENDLESS. 


Strongest  and  Cheapest 


IN  THE  WORLD. 


Correspondence  solicited. 
Please  write  for  Prices  and 
Samples, 


Ninth  and  Reed  Streets, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

248  Randolph  Street, 

CHICAGO. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  special  committee  appointed  by 
the  Common  Council  to  examine  and  report  upon  the 
feasibility  of  the  city  owning  and  operating  its  own  elec- 
tric lighting  plant,  the  following  resolution  was.  offered: 

f 

By  Alderman  Bnrt : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  committee  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  tendered  to  Mr.  Fred.  II.  W hippie,  sec- 
retary of  the  committee,  for  the  very  able,  exhaustive  and 
comprehensive  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the 
laborious  duties  assigned  to  him,  in  preparing  and  compiling 
the  information  and  facts  connected  with  the  subject  rele- 
gated to  the  committee.  We  consider  his  work,  as  com- 
pleted, to  be  beyond  all  question  the  most  valuable  digest  of 
the  matter  that  has  ever  yet  been  produced,  and  cheerfully 
recommend  it  to  all  who  are  interested  in  the  subject  of 
municipal  lighting. 

Adopted  as  follows : 

Ayes—  Aid.  Burt,  Meier,  Trombley,  Holihan,  Amos. 
Nays — None. 

Detroit,  June  9.  1888. 


FIAT    LUX    ET    ERAT    LUX. 


MUNICIPAL 


LIGHTING 


BY  FRED  H.  WHIPPLE. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,   in  the  year  1888,   in  thje  Office 
of  tr\e  Librarian  of  Congress,   at  Washington,    D,   C. 


DETROIT,  MICH. 
1888. 


To.  Hon.    M.    H.    CHAMBERLAIN,   of    Detroit,   who,   when   in 
the  Executive  Chair  did  so  much  to  further  an   in- 
vestigation of  the  Public  Lighting,   this  little 
volume  is  dedicated   by  the  writer. 


FREE  PRESS  PRINT, 
DETROIT. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGES 

Advertisements 1-25 

Introductory 33-34 

The  Electric  Light 35-37 

The  Contract  or  Rental  System 38-57 

Municipal  Lighting 58-77 

How  to  Buy  a  Plant 78-90 

Economy  in  Steam 91-93 

Importance  of  Belting 94-97 

How  to  Light  a  City 98-104 

The  Different  Systems- 
American  105-108 

Ball 108 

Brush 108-112 

Clark 112-114 

Edison 143-144 

Excelsior 114-116 

Fort  Wayne  Jenney 116-119 

Heisler 119-121 

Hill 121 

Indianapolis  Jenney 123-126 

Loomis 126 

Mather...   127 

Mutual 128-129 

Sawyer-Man 130 

Schuyler 131 

Thomson-Houston 132-134 

United  States 134 

Van  Depoele 135-138  ' 

Waterhouse 138-141 

Western 141-142 

Westinghouse 144-146 

Storage  Batteries 147-149 

Distribution  of  Light 150-169 

Underground  Lines 170-226 

Addenda 227 

Advertisements..                                                                    228-257 


INDEX. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Adams  Tower,  156. 

American  Dynamo,  106. 

American  Street  Lamp,  107. 

Brush  Dynamo,  109. 

Brush  Arc  Lamp,  110. 

Brush-Swan  Lamp,  111. 

Clark  Dynamo,  113. 

Clark  Lamp,  114. 

Detroit  Tower,  161. 

Edison  Dynamo,  142.    . 

Edison  Lamp,  148. 

Excelsior  Dynamo,  115. 

Excelsior  Lamp,  116. 

Electric  Leather  Belting,  95. 

Fort  Wayne  Jenney  Dynamo,  117. 

Fort  Wayne  Jenney  Lamp,  118. 

Heisler  Dynamo,  119. 

Heisler  Lamp,  120. 

Hide  of  Belt  Leather,  94. 

Hill  Dynamo,  121. 

Hill  Lamp,  122. 

Incandescent  Street  Lamp,  168. 

Indianapolis  Jenney  Djmamo.  124. 

Indianapolis  Jenney  Lamp,  125. 

Indianapolis  Towpr,  160. 

Lamp  Hangers,  155. 

Loom  is  Dynamo,  126. 

Loomis  Lamp,  127. 

Mast  Arms,  153. 

Mather  Dynamo,  127. 


Mather  Lamp,  127. 
Mutual  Dynamo,  128. 
Mutual  Lamp,  129. 
Patent  Joint  Belt,  96. 
Patent  Joint  Belt  in  Operation,  96. 
Plan  of  Intersection  Lighting,  154. 
Sawyer-Man  Lamp,  129. 
Sawyer-Man  Dynamo,  130. 
Schuyler  Dynamo,  131. 
Schuyler  Lamp,  132. 
Star  Iron  Tower,  159. 
Storage  Battery,  149. 
Street  Pole  Light,  152. 
Thomson-Houston  Dynamo,  133. 
Thomson- Houston  Lamp,  134. 
United  States  Dynamo,  135. 
United  States  Incandescent  Lamp, 

135. 

United  States  Are  Lamp,  136. 
Van  Depoele  Dynamo,  137. 
Van  Depoele  Incandescent  Lamp, 

138. 

Van  Depoele  Arc  Lamp,  138. 
Waterhouse  Dynamo,  139. 
Waterhouse  Lamp,  140. 
Western  Lamp,  140. 
Western  Dynamo,  141. 
Westiughouse  Street  Light,  145. 
Westinghouse  Street  Light,  146. 
Westinghouse  Converter,  146. 


SYSTEMS. 


American,  61,  65,  105,  106,  107. 

Ball,  108. 

Brush,  65,  66,  68,  70,  75,  76,  108, 

182,  183,  184,  186,  190,  204,  210, 

217,  221,  227. 
Clnrk,  5,  112.  113. 
Edison,  142,  189.  194,  201,  203,  227. 
Excelsior,  114,  179. 
Fort  Wayne  Jenney,  62,  65,  67,  75, 

116.  117.  118,  179. 
Heisler,  119. 
Hill,  121. 
Indianapolis  Jenuey,  59,  64,  65,  66, 

69,  70,  123,  124,  125,  218,  227. 
Loomis,  126. 


Mather,  13,  127. 

Mutual,  128. 

Sawyer-Man,  129. 

Schuyler,  65,  131. 

Sperry,  179. 

Thomson-Houston,  7,  65,  66,  68,  69, 

70,   132,  133,  179,  182,  183,  194, 

203,  209,  210,  216. 
United  States  1,  134,  135,  136,  182, 

186,  190,  227. 
Van  Depoele,  4,  75,  135. 
Waterhouse,  9,  138. 
Western,  66,  69,  71,  74.  76, 140,  179. 
Westinghouse,  144,  145,  146. 


RSTDEX. 


31 


LOCALITIES. 


Adrian,  Mich.,  38. 

Akron,  Ohio,  38,  1G4. 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  38. 

Albuquerque,  N.  M.,  38. 

Alleutown,  Pa.,  39. 

Alliance,  Ohio,  38. 

Asheville,  N.  C..  39. 

Ashland,  Pa.,  39. 

Attica,  Ind.,  227. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  39. 

Augusta,  Ga.,  39. 

Aurora,  111.,  65,  68,  ?G. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  39,  205,  207. 

Bangor,  Me.,  39. 

Bath,  Me.,  39. 

Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  39. 

Bay  City,  Mich.,  59,  GO,  65,  76,  1G5. 

Bloomington,  111.,  :,9. 

Boston,  Muss.,  40,  121,  201,  204,  208. 

Brockton,  Mass.,  203,  227. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  40,  191,  204,  207, 

208. 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  40. 
Buffalo,  K  Y.,  40,  203. 
Burlington,  la.,  40. 
Burlington,  Vt.,  40. 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  40. 
Camden,  N.  J..  208. 
Cedar  Rapids.  la.,  40. 
Champaign,  111.,  66,  76. 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  41. 
Chattanooga,  Term.,  41. 
Chicago,  111.,  67,  69.  71.  77,  93,  176, 

177,  204,  207,  208.  209,  210,  213, 

214,  217. 

Chillicothe,  Ohio,  41. 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  41,  210. 
Columbus,  Ga.,  41. 
Columbus,  Ohio,  41. 
Columbus,  Ind.,  65. 
Concord,  N.  H.,  41. 
Conshohocken,  Pa.,  227. 
Council  Bluffs,  la.,  41,  1G4. 
Danbury,  Conn.,  164. 
Danville,  111.,  165. 
Davenport,  la.,  42. 
Dayton,  Ohio,  42. 
Decatur,  111.,  67,  166. 
Defiance,  Ohio.  42. 
Denver,  Col.,  42,  163,  204,  209. 
Des  Moines,  la.,  42.  93. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  57,  76,  77.  98,  157, 

159,  161.  203.  209,  210,  213,  215. 
Easton,  Pa.,  74. 
East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  42. 
East  Portland,  Ore.,  121. 


Eau  Claire,  Wis..  42. 
Elgin,  111.,  42,  163. 
Erie,  Pa..  42. 
Eugene  City,  Ore.,  121. 
Evansville.  Ind.,  43,  165. 
Pairfield,  la.,  75,  167. 
Fall  River,  Mass.,  43. 
Fargo,  Dak.,  43,  163. 
Fitchburg,  Mass., 43 
Flint,,  Mich.,  1G2. 
Fond  Du  Lac,  Wis.,  43.  163. 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  43,  167. 
Frederickton,  Md.,  227. 
Galesburg,  III.,  43. 
Galveston,  Tex.,  43. 
Gloucester,  Mass.,  43. 
Goshen,  Ind.,  16G. 
Grand  Ledge,  Mich.,  70. 
Hannibal,  Mo.,  62,  76. 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  44. 
Hartford,  Conn.,  44. 
Ha  verb  ill,  Mass.,  44. 
Hoboken,  N.  J.,  44. 
Holyoke,  Mass.,  44. 
Hornellsville,  K  Y.,  44. 
Houston,  Tex.  ,44. 
Huntington,  Ind.,  67,  76. 
Indianapolis,  65,  160. 
Jackson,  Mich.,  44.          , 
Jacksonville,  111.,  44,  167. 
Janesville,  Wis.,  45. 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  45. 
Joliet,  111.,  45. 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  45. 
Kansas  City,  Mo  ,  45. 
Keene,  N.  H.,  45. 
Keokuk,  la..  45. 
La  Crosse,  Wis.,  45,  166. 
Lafayette,  Ind  ,  45. 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  45. 
Lawrence,  Mass.,  40. 
Lewiston,  Me.,  61.  7(1. 
Liberty.  Mo.,  46,  121. 
Lima,  Ohio.  46. 
Little  Rock,  Ark.,  75. 
Lockport,  N.  Y.,  46. 
Logansport,  Ind.,  46. 
London,  Ont.,  4G. 
Lowell,  Mass.,  4G. 
Lynn,  Mass.,  46. 
Lyons,  la.,  74. 
Macon,  Ga.,  47.  160. 
Madison,  Ind..  64,  65,  7G. 
Manchester.  N.  H.,  47. 
Mankato,  Minn.,  121. 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  47. 


32 


INDEX. 


Martinsville,  Ind. ,  68. 
Massillon,  Ohio,  47. 
Matteawan,  N.  Y.,47,  121. 
Memphis,  Term.,  47. 
Michigan  City,  Ind. ,  69,  77. 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  47,  209. 
Mobile,  Ala.,  47. 
Monmouth,  111.,  227. 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  47. 
Monticello,  Minn.,  47,  121. 
Montreal,  Canada,  48,  93. 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  48. 
Newark,  N.  J.,  48. 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  48. 
New  Britain,  Conn.,  48. 
Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  48. 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  48. 
New  Orleans,  La.,  48. 
Newton.  Mass.    48. 
New  York,  49,  186,   196,  204,  207, 

208,  209,  210,  213,  216,  225,  227. 
Norfolk,  Va.,49. 
Northampton,  Mass.,  49,  76, 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  49. 
Ocean  Grove,  N.  J.,  121. 
Ogden,  Utah,  49,  163. 
Olney,  111.,  227. 
Omaha,  Neb.,  49. 
Orange,  N.  J.,  49. 
Oskaloosa.  la.,  227. 
Oswego,  N.  Y.,  50. 
Ottawa,  Canada.  50. 
Ottawa,  Kan.,  50. 
Owego,  N.  Y.,  113. 
Painesviile.  Ohio,  69. 
Paris,  111.,  62,  63,  76. 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  50. 
Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  227, 
Pendleton,  Ore.,  121,  227. 
Peoria,  111.,  50. 
Peru,  111.,  227. 
Petersburg,  Va.,  50. 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  50,  57,70,  181, 

196,  204,   206,  207,  208,  209,  210, 

215,  216,  217,  218,  225. 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  51,  93,  185,  204.  209, 

215,  217,  218,  222. 
Plainfield,  N.  J.,  227. 
Portland,  Me.,  51. 
Portland,  Ore.,  51. 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  51. 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  69,  77. 
Pottsville,  Pa.,  51 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,51. 
Providence,  It.  I.,  51. 
Quincy,  111.,  51. 
Racine,  Wis..  51. 
Heading,  Pa..  52. 
Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  121. 
Richmond,  Va. ,  52. 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  52. 


Rock  Island,  III,  52,  166. 

Rome,  N.  Y.,  52. 

Sacramento.  Cal.,  52. 

Saginaw.  Mich.,  52,  166. 

Salem,  Mass.,  53. 

Salem,  Ohio,  227. 

San  Antonio,  Tex. ,  53. 

Sandusky.  Ohio,  53. 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  53. 

Savannah,  Ga.,  53. 

Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  53. 

Scran  ton,  Pa.,  53. 

Seattle,  W.  T.,  227. 

Sedalia,  Mo.,  54. 

Selma,  Ala.,  54. 

Sherman,  Tex.,  75. 

Somerville,  Mass.,  54. 

South  Bend,  Ind.,  54. 
j  Springfield.  Mass.,  54,  185,  209,  222. 
i  Springfield,  Ohio.  54. 

St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  52. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  65. 

Still  water,  Minn..  54. 

Stockton,  Ca.l,  54. 

Syracuse.  N.  Y.,  54. 

Tacoma,  W.  T.,  227. 

Taunton,  Mass. ,  54. 

Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  55,  65. 

Tipton,  la.,  165. 

Toledo,  Ohio,  55. 

Topeka,  Kan.,  64,  65,  66,  76. 

Toronto,  Ont.,  55. 

Torrington,  Conn.,  227. 

Trenton,  N.  J.,  55. 

Troy,  N.  Y,,  55. 

Tyler,  Tex.,  227. 

Tyrone,  Pa.,  227. 

Union  City,  Ind.,  55. 

Urbana,  Ohio,  227. 

Utica,  N.  Y.,  55,  167. 

Vicksburg,  Miss.,  56. 

Vincennes,  Ind.,  120. 

Wabash,  Ind.,  58,  121. 

Waltham,  Mass.,  56. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  56,  57, 190,  204, 
205,  207,  208,  210. 

Waterbury,  Conn.,  56. 

Watertown.  N.  Y.,  56. 

Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  227. 

Wichita,  Kan..  56,  65. 

Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  56. 

Williamsport,  Pa.,  56. 

Wilmington,  Del.,  208. 

Winona,  Minn.,  57. 

Woburn,  Mass.,  57. 

Wooster,  Ohio,  57. 

Worcester,  Mass.,  57. 

Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  57. 

Youngstown,  Ohio,  57. 

Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  69,  77. 


HE  writer  of  the  appended  pages  had  DO  thought 
of  writing  a  book  until  it  was  written.  The  ideas 
that  have  culminated  in  this  volume  were  devel- 
oped through  natural  causes,  and  sprung  from 
sources  which  in  themselves  had  no  connection 
with  book-making. 

The  electric  light,  as  a  scientific  curiosity,  is  old,  but  it  is 
little  understood  by  those  who  are  the  largest  patrons  of  its 
benefits.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  treat  of  it  except  so 
far  as  to  be  understood  by  electricians.  The  great  public  has 
never  been  told  in  language  stripped  of  its  technicalities,  of 
the  real  value  of  electricity  as  an  illuminant.  Municipal  and 
private  corporations  and  capital  seeking  investment  know  of 
the  electric  light  only  as  it  shines  upon  the  streets,  or  as  they 
read  of  it  in  the  pamphlets  of  the  manufacturing  companies. 
The  people  have  never  had  an  inning;  the  peoples'  representa- 
tives know  little  about  their  public  lighting,  and,  in  some  cases 
perhaps,  care  less.  For  this  they  are  excusable.  The  subject 
as  it  has  been  presented  to  them  has  been  too  deep  for  easy 
solution,  and  they  have  paid  for  their  light,  not  on  a  basis  of 
what  they  could  buy  it  for,  but  on  the  basis  of  what  the  com- 
pany could  get.  No  effort  to  systematically  obtain  and  arrange 
information  upon  the  politico-economic  questions  has  hereto- 
fore been  made,  and  the  contest  between  the  supply  and  the 
demand  has  been  necessarily  one  sided. 

The  title  of  this  volume  is  meant  to  be  definite.  It  is  not 
the  design  of  the  writer  to  dip  into  the  scientific  questions  that 
surround  the  subject  of  electric  lighting,  nor  to  compare  the 


34  INTRODUCTORY. 

values  of  different  systems  and  makes.  These  matters  are 
more  pertinently  in  the  hands  of  those  who  have  light  to  sell 
and  those  who  want  to  buy.  The  object  of  this  volume  is  sim- 
ply to  contribute  a  mite  to  the  general  knowledge  of  the  pres- 
ent status  of  municipal  electric  lighting,  and  to  indicate,  so  far 
as  possible,  what  should  be  done  by  the  public  treasury  or  the 
private  purse  in  investing  in  electric  lighting. 

To  this  end  the  writer  has  sought  to  obtain  information  upon 
such  points  as  the  laymen  will  desire  to  know.  With  what 
success  this  has  been  accomplished  the  reader  may  judge. 
One  merit,  if  no  other,  this  little  volume  contains — the  infor- 
mation is  authentic,  its  presentation  is  impartial,  and  its  resume 
is  thorough.  To  municipal  bodies,  therefore,  this  volume  is  in 
particular  intended,  and  in  general  to  all  who  have  any  inter- 
est in  the  subject  of  electric  lighting. 


(URe  Gfeefne  l§i 


URING  the  period  extending  from  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  telegraph  to  the  invention  of  the 
telephone,  the  efforts  of  the  electrical  world  were 
devoted  mainly  to  the  development  of  Prof.  Morse's 
immortal  discovery.  Indeed,  the  telephone  itself 
— one  form  of  it  at  least — was  the  outgrowth  of  observations 
and  experimental  investigations,  having  for  their  object  the 
improvement  of  the  telegraph.  The  success  of  the  telephone, 
which  was  almost  electric,  caused  an  awakening  in  electrical 
science.  Facts  that  had  long  been  known,  but  which  were 
esteemed  merely  amusing  experiments,  were  studied  with  re- 
newed interest,  and  the  results  were  the  brilliant  achievements 
which  so  startled  the  world  a  few  years  back.  These  were, 
notably,  the  electric  light  and  the  electric  railway. 

The  history  of  the  electric  light  is  interesting.  Notwith- 
standing the  proverbial  tendency  of  mankind  to  believe  that 
the  "olden  time  "showed  many  points  of  superiority  to  the 
present,  the  casual  retrospective  view  will  call  to  mind  a  list  of 
modern  improvements  which  are  now  considered  indispensable 
adjuncts  of  civilization,  but  which  have  been  introduced  within 
the  memory  of  thousands  who  are  now  living.  These  inven- 
tions, like  that  which  is  the  special  subject  of  these  pages,  in- 
stead of  being  born  full-grown,  were  more  or  less  imperfect  in 
their  infancy,  and  have  been  and  are  still  subjects  of  constant 
experiments  and  improvements.  The  records  of  the  patent 
office  illustrate  the  number  of  men  whose  active  brains  are  em- 
ployed in  the  constant  search  for  something  better  than  the 
world  has  yet  seen. 


36  THE    ELECTRIC    LIGHT. 

In  the  days  of  the  hand-loom  and  the  spinning-wheel,  of  the 
stage  coach  and  the  sailing  ship,  our  forefathers  extended  their 
hours  of  labor  by  the  aid  of  the  pine  knot  and  the  tallow  dip, 
and  sought  in  vain  for  more  efficient  means  of  illumination 
until  the  hardy  whalemen  of  New  Bedford  and  Nantucket  pro- 
vided the  malodorous  *'  whale  oil,"  whose  advent  was  thought 
to  mark  an  era  in  the  world's  advancement. 

One  can  easily  recall  the  excitement  attendant  upon  the  dis- 
covery of  petroleum  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  successive  steps 
which  resulted  in  the  now  almost  universal  kerosene  lamp, 
whose  odor,  inconvenience,  and  proneness  to  cause  destructive 
conflagrations,  are  sufficiently  familiar  to  cause  it  to  be  regarded 
as  by  no  means  an  unmixed  blessing. 

The  inventive  genius  of  mankind  next  brought  forward  coal- 
gas, — a  vast  improvement  on  its  predecessors,  but  handicapped 
by  its  own  peculiar  disadvantages.  The  cost  of  its  introduc- 
tion limits  its  field  of  usefulness  to  cities  and  large  towns,  and 
the  capital  invested  in  its  production,  and  in  the  means  of  its 
conveyance  to  the  consumer,  requires  the  payment  of  heavy 
dividends,  and,  in  connection  with  that  potent  factor,  the  con- 
scienceless "  meter,"  draws  such  sums  from  the  user's  pocket 
that  he  often  returns  to  the  despised  kerosene  lamp,  or,  unable 
to  make  that  sacrifice  of  convenience  and  safety,  waits  with 
eager  anxiety  for  the  coming  of  some  means  of  illumination  as 
safe  and  convenient  as  gas,  while  cheaper  and  more  reliable. 

For  many  years  it  has  been  known  that  an  extremely  brilliant 
light  could  be  produced  by  slightly  separating  two  pencils  of 
carbon,  through  which  a  powerful  current  of  electricity,  was 
passing,  as  the  mysterious  force  spans  the  gap  with  an  "arc" 
of  intense  light.  The  one  insuperable  bar  to  the  general  intro- 
duction of  this  light,  was  its  great  cost,  due  to  the  necessity  of 
producing  the  current  by  the  consumption  of  zinc  in  the  gal- 
vanic battery.  In  spite  of  this  expense  the  arc  light  early 
found  a  limited  application  to  lighthouses,  and  other  import- 
ant government  works. 

The  solution  of  the  problem  was  seen,  by  the  prophetic  minds 
of  scientific  men,  to  depend  upon  the  discovery  of  an  economi- 


THE    ELECTRIC    LIGHT.  37 

cal  means  of  generating  the  electric  current,  and  many  years 
were  spent  in  fruitless  endeavors  to  reduce  its  cost.  Finally, 
advantage  was  taken  of  the  fact — long  known  as  a  scientific 
curiosity  —  that  whenever  a  wire  or  other  conductor  is  ap- 
proached to  or  removed  from  a  magnet,  a  current  is  produced 
in  the  conductor.  This  unused  and  almost  forgotten  bit  of 
knowledge,  unimportant  as  it  seemed,  was  the  key  of  the  whole 
problem. 

Given  a  means  of  generating  the  electric  current,  not  by  the 
consumption  of  costly  chemicals,  but  by  power  —  power  deriv- 
able from  any  of  the  sources  long  utilized  by  man — and  it  was 
possible  to  produce  economically  the  brilliant  "arc"  which 
now  casts  its  intense  white  light  on  city  streets  the  world  over. 

The  first  obstacle  to  the  more  general  introduction  of  the 
electric  light  was,  as  stated,  its  cost,  and  in  some  quarters  this 
has  not  entirely  been  done  away  with  at  the  present  day.  For 
some  purposes  and  in  some  places  it  has  been  impossible  as  yet 
to  place  electricity  in  competition  with  gas  as  regards  expense. 
Wherever  the  comparison  has  been  made  electricity  has  won 
the  day.  But  why  draw  a  comparison  ?  People  do  not  com- 
pare the  cost  of  gas  with  that  of  candles,  nor  the  price  of  a 
pheasant  with  that  of  a  mutton  chop.  People  will  have  the 
electric  light  if  it  can  be  supplied  to  them,  not  because  it  is 
cheap,  but  because  it  is  safe,  healthy,  pure,  soft  and  natural. 
And,  moreover,  they  will  not  object  to  paying  a  reasonable 
price  for  it,  whatever  may  be  the  price  of  gas. 

Hitherto  the  electric  light  has  been  regarded  more  as  a  lux- 
ury than  as  a  light  for  general  use.  In  1870  there  was  not  a 
single  lamp  lighted  by  electricity,  and  today  there  are  in  this 
country  over  500,000  in  operation.  Is  not,  then,  the  topic  of 
electric  lighting  a  live  one  ? 


(Ufte  (®onfrcLct,  or  S^enfaf  ||ijAferT] 


'HE  prices  paid  by  American  cities  for  public  light- 
ing, under  the  contract  or  rental  system,  together 
with  the  systems  in  use,  the  manner  of  stringing 
wires  and  hanging  the  lamps,  the  hours  which  the 
lamps  are  burned,  the  area  lighted,  and  other  infor- 
mation concerning  their  lighting  contracts,  will  be  found 
in  the  following  pages.  The  data  for  the  same  is  brought  up 
to  April  1st,  1888. 

ADEIAN,  Mich.,  has  just  contracted  for  60  Thomson-Houston 
lights  at  $100  each  per  year,  to  burn  all  night  and  every  night, 
the  cost  to  be  reduced  when  the  number  reaches  75.  Three 
square  miles  will  be  lighted  by  the  intersection  system.  The 
contract  is  for  three  years. 

AKKON,  Ohio,  lights  four  square  miles  with  170  Thomson- 
Houston  lights,  swung  at  street  intersections,  burning  up  to  2 
o'clock  A.  M.,  for  3  9-10  cents  per  hour  per  lamp,  for  2,000 
hours;  contract,  five  years;  wires  overhead.  In  1880  the  city 
put  up  two  towers  and  used  nine  Brush  lights,  of  nominal 
4,000  candle-power  each.  In  1884  the  intersection  system  was 
adopted  and  the  Thomson-Houston  light,  which,  Newton  Ford, 
City  Clerk,  writes,  gives  better  general  satisfaction. 

ALBANY,  N.  Y.,  lights  three  square  miles  of  its  business  ter- 
ritory with  481  Brush  lights,  placed  on  poles  and  at  intersec- 
tions. The  city  owns  the  poles,  wires  and  lamps.  The  price 
of  lights  is  50  cents  each  per  night,  burning  all  night,  or 
$182.50  per  year.  Contract,  five  years;  wires  overhead. 

ALBUQUERQUE,  New  Mexico,  has  three  Brush  lights  on  its 
principal  street  placed  on  poles,  and  burning  until  1  o'clock. 
They  cost  $192  each  per  year. 

ALLIANCE,  Ohio,  pays  $144  each  per  year  for  80  Western 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM.  39 

lights,  which  are  placed  at  street  intersections  and  burn  all 
night.  Contract,  annual;  wires  overhead. 

ALLENTOWN,  Pa.,  has  100  American  lamps,  swung  at  street 
intersections,  in  four  square  miles,  which  burn  all  night,  except 
on  moonlight  nights,  and  cost  $100  each  per  year.  Contract, 
five  years;  wires  overhead.  Naphtha  is  burned  every  night  in 
the  year  for  $21  per  light. 

ASHEVILLE,  N.  C.,  has  35  Jenney  lights,  placed  on  towers 
and  poles,  which  burn  until  2  o'clock,  for  $100  each  per  year. 
Two  square  miles  are  lighted.  The  contract  expires  this  year. 

ASHLAND,  Pa.,  uses  23  Thomson-Houston  lights  at  street  in- 
tersections, lighting  two  square  miles  on  the  moon  schedule, 
for  $100  per  light  per  year.  The  contract  is  for  one  year. 

ATLANTA,  Ga.,  uses  100  Thomson-Houston  intersection  all 
night  and  every  night  lights,  which  cost  32  cents  each  per 
night,  or  $120  per  year;  wires  overhead;  contract,  three  years. 
Gas  and  gasoline  is  also  used. 

AUGUSTA,  GA.,  has  but  three  lights,  of  the  American  system, 
Jn  the  public  park.  They  burn  until  midnight  and  cost  Si 00 
each  per  annum.  Gas  and  kerosene  are  used  throughout  the 
city. 

BALTIMORE  has  no  contract,  but  pays  50  cents  per  night  per 
light,  or  8182.50  each  per  year,  burning  every  and  all  night, 
for  519  Brush  lights.  The  lamps  are  placed  on  poles  and  mast- 
arms;  wires  overhead.  The  lights  are  scattered  in  dark  alleys 
and  on  principal  streets. 

BANGOR,  Me.,  has  only  23  lights  of  the  Thomson-Houston 
system,  which  are  used  in  the  central  parts,  lighting  one  square 
mile.  The  lights  burn  all  night,  are  placed  on  poles,  with 
wires  overhead,  and  cost  $150  each  per  year.  The  contract  is 
yearly. 

BATH,  Me.,  has  20  American  lights  burning,  on  poles,  on  the 
Philadelphia  schedule,  which  cost  $100  each  per  year.  No 
other  light  is  used.  Contract,  five  years. 

BATTLE  CREEK,  Mich.,  has  62  Thomson-Houston  intersection 
lights,  which  light  four  square  miles.  No  other  light  is  used. 
Ten  lamps  burn  all  night;  the  remainder  until  midnight,  and 
cost  $111  each  per  year.  Contract,  one  year. 

BLOOMINGTON,  111.,  pays  $108  each  per  year  for  211  intersec- 
tion and  pole  Thomson-Houston  lights,  burning  all  night  and 


40  THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

all  but  moonlight  nights;  four  square  miles  are  lighted.  Con- 
tract, three  years;  wires  overhead. 

BOSTON,  Mass.,  places  570  Brush  and  Thomson-Houston  lights 
on  iron  extension  arms  on  regular  lamp-posts.  Twelve  square 
miles  are  lighted  under  a  three-years'  contract,  the  lamps  burn- 
ing 3,828  hours  per  year,  at  a  cost  of  65  cents  per  night,  or 
$237.25  per  year.  The  wires  are  overhead,  and  the  city  is  agi- 
tating placing  them  underground. 

BRIDGEPORT,  Conn.,  uses  94  Thomson-Houston  lights,  placed 
on  poles  and  mast-arms,  which  burn  all  night  and  cost  50  cents 
each  per  night,  or  $182.50  per  year.  Four  square  miles  are 
lighted  under  a  five-years'  contract.  The  wires  are  strung  over- 
head on  the  telephone  poles. 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.,  covers  part  of  the  city  with  1,007  Thom- 
son-Houston lights  placed  on  poles.  The  lamps  burn  3,900 
hours  per  year,  and  cost  under  the  present  annual  contract  50 
cents  each  per  night,  or  $182.50  per  year.  The  wires  are  strung 
overhead. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.,  lights  45|  miles  of  street,  using  631  Brush, 
Thomson-Houston  and  United  States  lights,  which  burn  all  and 
every  night,  at  a  cost  of  47^-  cents  each  per  night,  or  $174.38 
per  year.  The  lamps  are  swung  on  poles  and  at  intersections, 
and  the  wires  are  overhead,  but  conduits,  principally  of  creo- 
soted  wood,  have  been  constructed  for  the  Thomson-Houston 
wires.  The  contract  is  annual.  The  remainder  of  the  city  is 
lighted  by  gas. 

BURLINGTON,  Iowa,  has  39  Van  Depoele  lights,  placed  on 
poles  and  at  intersections.  The  lights  are  burned  on  the  Phila- 
delphia schedule,  and  cost  $130  per  lamp  per  annum.  The  con- 
tract is  for  three  years.  Gas  is  also  used. 

BURLINGTON,  Yt.,  places  70  Brush  lights  on  poles  and  mast- 
arms,  which,  with  50  naphtha  lamps,  light  four  square  miles 
until  midnight  every  night.  The  price  under  a  three-years' 
contract  is  32  cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $116  per  year. 

CAMBRIDGE,  Mass.,  has  78  American  lights  on  three  of  the 
main  avenues  at  six  miles  of  intersections.  They  burn  all  night 
and  every  night  at  55  cents  each  per  night,  or  8200  per  year. 
There  is  no  contract;  wires  overhead.  The  City  Clerk  reports 
an  unsatisfactory  condition  of  affairs. 

CEDAR  RAPIDS,  Iowa,  has  forty-four  Thomson-Houston  lights 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR   RENTAL    SYSTEM.  41 

at  street  intersections,  which  light  four  square  miles  all  night. 
The  cost  under  a  ten  years'  contract  is  $120  per  lamp  per  year. 
The  contract  expires  March  15,  1896. 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C.,  has  fifty  Thomson-Houston  all  night  pole 
lights,  which  cost  $168  each  per  annum.  Gas  is  also  used.  The 
contract  expires  January  1,  1889. 

CHATTANOOGA,  Tenn.,  pays  33£  cents  each  per  night,  or 
$121.66  per  year,  for  30  Brush  lights,  burning  all  night  and 
every  night.  Poles  and  towers  and  overhead  wires  are  used. 
Contract,  two  years. 

CHILLICOTHE,  Ohio,  has  121  Brush  lights  placed  on  poles, 
which  burn  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  They  cost,  under  a 
five-years'  contract,  $80  per  lamp  per  year. 

CLEVELAND,  Ohio,  lights  but  l£  square  miles  with  electric 
lamps,  using  the  Brush  light,  42  of  2,000  candle-power  and  26 
of  4,000  candle  power  each.  The  former  are  placed  on  wires 
swung  at  street  intersections,  and  cost  3  7-10  cents  per  hour 
each.  The  large  lamps  are  on  iron  masts,  and  cost  10J  cents 
each  per  hour.  The  lamps  are  burned  3,760  hours  per  year, 
making  the  cost  for  2,000  candle-power  $139.12  and  4,000  can- 
dle-power $394.80  each.  Contract  annual;  wires  overhead. 

COLUMBUS,  Ga.,  places  21  Brush  lights  on  poles  on  two 
streets.  They  burn  all  night  for  $108  each  per  year,  under  a 
two-years'  contract.  The  remainder  of  the  city  is  lighted  with 
gas. 

COLUMBUS,  Ohio,  is  paying  for  200  Thomson-Houston  lights, 
and  by  June  will  have  200  more.  Intersection  system  is  used 
exclusively  with  the  arc  light  wires  overhead.  The  Edison 
Company  have  their  incandescent  wires  underground.  The 
Philadelphia  schedule  is  followed,  and  the  cost  is  $48  per  light 
per  year  for  the  first  50,  and  $80  per  light  for  the  others.  Ow- 
ing to  the  condition  of  the  funds  in  the  city  there  is  no  regular 
contract.  Gasoline  is  used  in  the  suburbs. 

CONCORD,  N.  H.,  has  gas  and  17  Thomson-Houston  pole  lights, 
which  burn  until  midnight  and  cost  $100  per  night  per  year. 
There  is  no  contract. 

COUNCIL  BLUFFS,  Iowa,  has  seven  150-foot  towers  of  four 
Thomson-Houston  lights  each,  for  which  it  pays  $240  per  year 
for  each  light.  The  lights  burn  all  night,  except  on  moonlight 


42  THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

nights.  Wires  overhead;  contract,  two  years.  One  and  one- 
half  square  miles  are  lighted. 

DAVENPORT,  Iowa,  has  a  20-years'  contract  for  54  mast-arm 
intersection  and  40  tower  lights  of  the  Jenney  system,  which 
lights  four  and  a  half  square  miles  when  there  is  no  moon. 
Tower  lights  cost  $190  each  per  year,  and  low  lights  each  $145 
per  year;  wires  overhead. 

DAYTON,  Ohio,  pays  $150  per  year  for  each  of  the  126  Ful- 
ler arc  lights  used  on  the  streets.  The  lights  burn  3,674  hours 
per  year;  pole  system;  wires  overhead;  contract,  three  years. 
There  are  965  gas-lamps,  which  cost  $19  each  per  year. 

DEFIANCE,  Ohio,  pays  $60  per  lamp  per  year  for  52  Western 
intersection  lights.  Contract  annual;  wires  overhead. 

DENVER,  Col.,  has  540  incandescent  lamps  on  old  gas  posts 
and  seven  towers  with  four  arc  lights  each.  The  Westing- 
house  alternating  system  is  used  with  the  wires  underground. 
The  price  is  $28  each  per  year  for  the  incandescent  and  $855 
per  year  for  each  tower.  According  to  J.  R.  Treadway,  City 
Clerk,  the  latter  are  not  satisfactory  and  are  being  taken  out, 
as  the  contract  for  them  expires.  The  moonlight  schedule  for 
all  night  lighting  is  employed.  Contract  for  the  incandescent 
lamps,  three  years. 

DES  MOINES  maintains  six  lights  on  her  bridges,  for  which 
she  pays  $120  each  per  year,  burning  until  midnight. 

EAU  CLAIRE,  Wis.,  uses  48  Brush  lights,  placed  on  towers 
and  at  intersections,  which  are  claimed  to  light  twelve  square 
miles.  The  lights  burn  all  and  every  night,  and  cost  $157  each 
per  year.  The  contract  expires  this  year. 

EAST  LIVERPOOL,  Ohio,  pays  $85  each  per  year  for  its  first  25 
Western  intersection  lights,  and  $80  for  the  others.  Contract, 
annual;  wires  overhead. 

ELGIN,  111.,  is  lighted  by  33  Van  Depoele  lamps  placed  on 
towers,  which  burn  all  night,  and  light  four  square  miles,  under 
a  five-years'  contract  which  expires  this  year.  The  cost  is 
$7,000  per  year,  or  $212  per  lamp. 

ERIE,  Pa.,  uses  54  Brush  lights,  swung  at  intersections,  and 
pays  40  cents  each  per  night,  or  $146  per  year.  The  lights  burn 
all  and  every  night,  under  an  annual  contract;  wires  overhead. 
One  mile  square  is  lighted. 

EVANSVILLE,  Ind.,  has  ten  towers  of    four  lights  each,  49 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL   SYSTEM.  43 

arches  at  intersections,  and  ten  poles.  The  Brush  system  is 
used,  and  the  lamps  burn  when  the  moon  does  not  shine,  at  a 
cost  of  $24,480  per  year,  with  a  deduction  when  not  burned  of 
10  cents  per  hour  for  each  pole  or  arch,  and  15  cents  per  hour 
for  each  tower  light.  Five  square  miles  are  lighted.  The  con- 
tract is  for  ten  years.  Overhead  wires.  No  other  light  is 
used. 

FALL  RIVER,  Mass.,  has  260  Thomson-Houston  lights,  dis- 
tributed over  the  city,  which  burn  every  and  all  night,  for  $204 
each  per  year.  Poles  are  used  with  overhead  wires;  contract 
for  one  year. 

FARGO,  Dak.,  has  three  towers,  with  six  Brush  lights  on  each, 
and  two  poles.  The  lights  burn  all  night,  for  $240  each  per 
year.  Contract,  two  years. 

FITCHBTJRG,  Mass.,  for  six  hours  each  night,  is  lighted  by  51 
Thomson-Houston  lights,  placed  on  poles,  and  also  by  gas  and 
gasoline.  The  electric  lights  cost  $90  each  per  year.  Con- 
tract, annual. 

FOND  Du  LAC,  Wis.,  has  35  Brush  lights,  17  on  towers,  the 
rest  at  the  intersections  of  streets.  Four  towers  have  two  lights 
each,  and  three  have  three  lights  each.  The  lights  are  burned 
on  the  Philadelphia  schedule  and  cost  $72  each  per  year.  Con- 
tract five  years. 

FORT  WAYNE,  Ind.,  pays  $150  per  annum,  with  a  discount 
of  10  per  cent,  each  for  138  Jenney  lights  placed  on  towers  in 
the  outskirts  and  at  intersections  of  the  streets  in  central  part 
of  the  city.  The  lights  burn  whenever  needed  and  light  seven 
square  miles.  Contract  three  years;  wires  overhead. 

GALESBURG,  111.,  has  96  Thomson-Houston  lights  placed  on 
poles  and  at  street  intersections,  which  light  2£  square  miles. 
Thirty-one  of  the  lights  burn  all  night  and  65  burn  until  mid- 
night on  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  The  all  night  lights  cost 
$117  each  per  year;  the  short  circuit  lights  $69  each;  the  con- 
tract is  annual. 

GALVESTOX,  Tex.,  48  Brush  lights  placed  on  poles  with  over- 
head wires  and  lighted  according  to  the  Philadelphia  schedule; 
cost  75  cents  each  per  night,  or  $150  per  year.  Contract  five 
years.  There  are  also  199  gas  lamps. 

GLOUCESTER,  Mass.,  has  15  Thomson-Houston  lights  on  poles, 
in  addition  to  gas  and  oil.  The  lights  burn  until  midnight  and 
cost  $96  each  per  year.  Contract  annual. 


44  THE    CONTRACT,    OR   RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

HARRISBURG,  Pa.,  has  150  Excelsior  lights  placed  on  poles 
which  burn  all  night  and  every  night.  The  contract,  which  is 
annual,  fixes  the  price  at  $13,980,  or  $93.20  per  light.  Wires 
overhead. 

HARTFORD,  Conn.,  lights  its  central  portion  with  120  Thom- 
son-Houston pole  lights  under  an  annual  contract.  The  pres- 
ent price  is  five  cents  per  lam  p  per  hour.  The  lights  burn  all 
and  every  night,  making  the  cost  $198  per  lamp  per  year. 
Wires  overhead.  Gas  is  used  in  the  suburbs. 

HAVERHILL,  Mass.,  has  43  Thomson-Houston  lights  in  the  cen- 
tral portion,  and  gas,  gasoline  and  kerosene  on  the  outskirts. 
The  electric  lights  are  placed  on  poles,  and  burn  until  1  o'clock. 
They  cost  47  cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $171  per  year.  The 
contract  is  annual.  Wires  overhead. 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  has  100  Thomson-Houston  pole  lights 
within  six  square  miles.  The  lights  burn  all  night,  and  cost 
forty  cents  each  per  night.  The  five-year  contract  expires  in 
1893.  Gas  is  also  used. 

HOLYOKE,  Mass.,  the  principal  thoroughfares  are  lighted  all 
night  and  the  outskirts  until  midnight.  Seventy-two  Schuyler 
lamps  are  used  in  three  square  miles  of  territory.  The  all  night 
lights  cost  50  cents  each  per  night  and  37£  cents  per  light  for 
midnight  lights.  The  lamps  are  on  iron  poles;  wires  overhead; 
contract  runs  three  years. 

HORNELLSVILLE,  N.  Y.,  employs  64  American  lights,  placed 
at  the  intersections  of  streets,  burning  all  night  for  $100  each 
per  year.  Contract  three  years. 

HOUSTON,  Tex.,  has  just  made  a  five  years'  contract  for  100 
Fort  Wayne  Jenney  lights  running  all  night  for  41  cents  per 
night  per  lamp,  or  $150  per  year.  Intersection  cross  arms  are 
used,  with  overhead  wires. 

JACKSON,  Mich.,  pays  $16,000  per  year  for  180  Thomson- 
Houston  lights,  lighting  three  square  miles  on  poles,  with  over- 
head .wires,  every  night  and  all  night.  This  is  at  the  rate  of 
$88.89  per  lamp.  The  contract  expired  in  March. 

JACKSONVILLE,  111.,  has  32  Thomson-Houston  electric  lights 
and  126  gas-lamps.  The  electric  lights  are  placed  on  towers 
and  mast-arms,  and  are  of  2,000  and  1,200  candle-power.  Four 
square  miles  are  lighted  17  nights  each  month  until  midnight, 
and  cost  $100  each  per  year.  Contract,  two  years.  Gas  costs 
$17.50  per  lamp. 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM.  45 

JANESVILLE,  Wis.,  in  addition  to  gas,  burns  eight  Thomson- 
Houston  lights  until  11  o'clock  and  pays  $100  each  per  year. 
The  lights  are  placed  on  poles.  Contract  annual. 

JERSEY  CITY,  N.  J.,  has  seventy  pole  lights,  which  are  scat- 
tered in  conjunction  with  gas.  The  lights  burn  all  night,  and 
cost  forty  cents  each  per  night.  The  annual  contract  expires 
December  1,  1888. 

JOLIET,  111.,  lights  four  square  miles  with  100  American 
lights  on  poles,  burning  eight  hours,  19  nights  per  month,  pay- 
ing 23  cents  per  night  per  lamp.  Contract,  five  years;  wires 
overhead. 

KALAMAZOO,  Mich.,  lights  six  square  miles  with  101  Thom- 
son-Houston lights,  placed  at  street  intersections.  Twenty-six 
burn  all  and  every  night,  at  a  cost  of  60  cents  each,  or  $219 
per  year,  and  75  burn  until  midnight  for  40  cents  each  per 
night,  or  $146  per  year.  The  contract  runs  three  years. 

KANSAS  CITY  uses  67  Thomson-Houston  lights  in  dangerous 
places  only.  They  are  swung  on  mast-arms,  with  overhead 
wires,  and  burn  all  and  every  night,  under  an  agreement  that 
the  price  shall  not  be  more  than  55  cents  each  per  night,  or 
$200  per  year. 

KEENE,  N.  H.,  hangs  27  Thomson -Houston  lights  on  ropes 
between  poles  or  trees.  The  lights  burn  until  11.30  and  cost 
$100  each  per  year.  Contract  three  years.  Gas  and  gasoline 
are  also  used. 

KEOKDK,  Iowa,  uses  30  American  lamps  placed  at  intersec- 
tions, burning  all  night  for  $140  each  per  year.  The  contract 
is  annual.  Gas  is  also  used. 

LA  CROSSE,  Wis.,  is  lighted  by  sixty-two  Brush  lights,  fifty 
of  which  are  on  poles  and  the  others  on  four  towers.  The  moon 
schedule  is  followed,  and  the  cost  is  $861.12  per  month.  The 
five-year  contract  expires  January  1,  1891. 

LAFAYETTE,  Ind.,  has  207  Brush  lights,  covering  an  area  of 
five  square  miles,  for  which  it  pays  2  6-10  cents  per  hour  per 
lamp,  or  last  year  $50.60  each.  The  lights  are  600  feet  apart, 
hanging  in  the  center  of  the  streets,  with  overhead  wires,  and 
burned  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  Contract,  three  years, 
with  privilege  of  five. 

LANCASTER,  Pa.,  pays  35  cents  each  per  night,  or  $127  per 
year,  for  138  United  States  all-night  lights,  which  light  two 


46  THE    CONTRACT,    OB    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

square  miles.     The  remainder  of  the  city  is  lighted  by  gas  and 
gasoline.     Pole  system;  overhead  wires;  annual  contract. 

LAWRENCE,  Mass.,  uses  559  Edison  incandescent  and  nineteen 
Brush  arc  lights,  all  placed  upon  poles.  The  lights  burn  all 
night,  and  the  entire  cost  per  year  is  $9,534.40.  The  five-year 
contract  expires  in  1890. 

LIBERTY,  Mo.,  uses  160  Heisler  incandescent  lights,  placed 
on  poles,  and  lighting  one  square  mile.  The  lights  cost  $18 
each  per  year,  burning  until  midnight.  There  is  no  contract. 
No  other  light  is  used. 

LIMA,  Ohio,  has  just  made  a  one-year  contract  for  58  Thom- 
son-Houston lights,  placed  at  street  intersections,  with  one  cen- 
tral tower  and  six  lights,  for  $112  each  per  year.  One-half  of 
the  lights  burn  all  night  on  all  but  moonlights;  the  other  half 
until  1  o'clock  A.  M.  Extra  lights  may  be  ordered  up  at  a  cost 
of  $100  per  year  each. 

LOCKPORT,  N.  Y.,  has  gas,  arc  and  incandescent  lights.  There 
are  28  Brush  arcs  and  139  Edison  incandescents  placed  on  poles 
and  swung  over  the  streets.  Three  square  miles  are  lighted, 
under  a  three-years'  contract.  The  lights  burn  2,000  hours 
during  the  year.  The  arcs  cost  $135  each,  the  incandescents 
$19  each,  and  gas  $16.50. 

LOGANSPORT,  Ind.,  62  Jenney  lights  burning  on  the  Phila- 
delphia schedule,  swung  on  poles,  with  overhead  wires,  light 
four  square  miles.  Price  $115  per  lamp  per  year;  contract, 
annual;  good  satisfaction. 

LONDON,  Ont.,  has  62  Ball  lights  on  two  of  the  principal 
streets  and  at  railway  crossings  and  bridges.  The  lights  are 
placed  on  poles  35  to  40  feet  high,  and  burn  all  night  and  every 
night.  Price  28  cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $102.20  per  year 
for  27  lights;  and  35  cents  per  night,  or  $127.75  per  year,  for 
35  lights;  wires  overhead;  contract,  optional  with  the  city. 
There  are  350  gas-lamps. 

LOWELL,  Mass.,  has  125  Thomson-Houston  all-night  lights, 
for  which  it  pays  55  cents  each  per  night,  or  $200  per  year. 
Poles  are  used,  with  overhead  wires ;  contract  runs  three 
years. 

LYNN,  Mass.,  100  Thomson-Houston  pole-lights  burn  until  1 
o'clock  every  morning,  lighting  two  square  miles.  Price  47 i 
cents  per  light  per  night;  contract,  yearly;  wires  overhead;  no 
other  light  is  used. 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM.  47 

MACON,  Ga.,  lights  l£  square  miles  with  34  Brush  lights, 
placed  on  towers  and  intersection  arms.  The  lights  burn  on 
the  moon  schedule,  and  cost  $147  per  year  each.  Contract, 
five  years. 

MANCHESTER,  N.  H.,  employs  40  United  States  lights  in  ad- 
dition to  gas.  The  lights  are  placed  on  mast-arms,  and  burn 
from  6  to  12  o'clock,  and  cost  $132  each  per  year.  There  is  no 
contract;  wires  overhead.  Two  square  miles  are  lighted  with 
electric  lights;  the  remainder  of  the  city  with  gas. 

MANSFIELD,  Ohio,  has  74  Western  lamps  swung  at  street  in- 
tersections, which  burn  until  midnight.  The  cost  is  $75  each 
per  year,  under  a  five-years'  contract. 

MATTEAWAN,  N.  Y.,  uses  175  incandescent  lights  of  the  Heisler 
system,  which  burn  all  and  every  night,  for  $20  each  per  year. 
Contract,  annual;  wires  overhead;  pole  system. 

MASSILLON,  Ohio,  has  80  Schuyler  lamps,  which  burn  all  night 
at  street  intersections,  for  $70  per  lamp  per  year.  Contract,  an- 
nual; wires  overhead. 

MEMPHIS,  Tenn.,  uses  75  Brush  and  Thomson-Houston  pole 
lights,  burning  all  night,  at  a  cost  of  $180  each  per  year;  wires 
overhead;  contract  yearly.  The  last  legislature  authorized  the 
city  to  purchase  a  plant. 

MILWAUKEE  has  just  contracted  for  20  lights  at  $150  per 
year. 

MOBILE,  Ala.,  has  106  Thomson-Houston  lights,  placed 
at  alternate  intersections  in  the  suburbs,  and  at  each  intersec- 
tion in  the  central  portion  of  the  city.  There  are  also  seven 
towers  of  four  lights  each.  Four  square  miles  are  lighted  for 
$14,500  per  year,  or  $76.50  per  lamp.  On  moonlight  nights  the 
lamps  are  not  lighted.  Wires  overhead;  the  contract  runs  for 
five  years. 

MONTGOMERY,  Ala.,  has  just  made  a  five-year  contract  for 
100  Brush  lights,  placed  at  the  intersection  of  streets,  for  42£ 
cents  per  night  per  light,  or  $155  per  year.  The  lamps  burn 
all  night  and  every  night.  The  previous  contract  was  for  60 
cents  per  night;  wires  overhead. 

MONTICELLO,  Minn.,  uses  150  thirty-candle  power  Heisler  in- 
candescent lights,  which  are  placed  on  street  corners,  and  burn 
until  midnight.  They  cost,  under  an  annual  contract,  $24  each 
per  year.  No  other  light  is  used. 


48  THE    CONTRACT,    OR   RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

MONTREAL  has  132  Thomson-Houston  lights,  burning  all 
night  and  every  night,  lighting  six  of  the  principal  streets 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  extent.  The  cost  is  60  cents  per 
night  per  lamp,  or  $219  per  year.  Contract  runs  five  years; 
pole  system;  wires  overhead,  and,  in  all  cases,  above  other 
wires. 

NASHVILLE,  Tenn.,  the  old  contract  for  30  Brush  lights,  at  70 
cents  each  per  night,  has  been  renewed  for  45  lights,  at  60  cents 
each  per  night,  or  $2i9  per  year.  The  lights  are  placed  on  an 
arch  over  the  intersection  of  streets,  and  burn  all  night  and 
every  night;  wires  ovei'head. 

NEWARK,  N.  J.,  uses,  in  addition  to  3,562  gas-lamps,  184 
United  States  lights,  which  burn  all  and  every  night,  and  cost 
50  cents  each,  or  $182.50  a  year.  Pole  system;  overhead  wires; 
contract,  three  years. 

NEW  BEDFORD,  Mass.,  uses  50  Thomson-Houston  lights,  placed 
on  poles  and  burning  all  night,  except  moonlight  nights,  for  50 
cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $182.50  per  year.  Contract,  an- 
nual; wires  overhead. 

NEWTON,  Mass.,  has  73  Thomson-Houston  lights,  711  gas- 
lamps  and  505  kerosene  lamps.  The  electric  lights  are  placed 
on  mast-arms  at  the  intersections  of  about  ten  lineal  miles  of 
the  principal  streets.  They  burn  twenty  nights  per  month,  and 
cost  50  cents  each  per  night.  Annual  contract. 

NEWBURGH,  N.  Y.,  lights  its  suburban  district  with  83  Thom- 
son-Houston lights,  placed  on  poles,  with  overhead  wires,  and 
burning  all  night  every  night,  for  $120  each  per  year;  contract, 
annual.  Gas-lamps  cost  $32  each  per  year. 

NEW  BRITAIN,  Conn.,  places  66  Schuyler  lights  on  intersec- 
tion mast-arms,  and  light  one  square  mile.  The  lights  burn 
until  midnight;  cost,  $100  each  per  year.  There  is  no  con- 
tract. The  city  also  uses  naphtha. 

NEW  HAVEN,  Conn.,  lights  four  square  miles  with  118  Thom- 
son-Houston lights,  placed  on  poles  and  mast-arms,  with  over- 
head wires.  The  lights  burn  all  night  and  every  night,  and 
cost  50  cents  each  per  night,  or  $182.50  per  year;  contract, 
yearly. 

NEW  ORLEANS  has  30  Jenney  lights  in  the  public  markets, 
18  in  the  public  squares  and  771  for  street  lighting;  a  total  of 
819.  Thirty  square  miles  are  lighted  every  night  by  poles  and 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM.  49 

towers,  for  $125  per  lamp  per  annum.     Contract,  five  years; 
wires  overhead. 

NEW  YORK  has  24,719  gas  lamps,  120  naphtha  lamps  and 
831  electric  lamps  of  the  United  States,  Brush,  Waterhouse 
and  Thomson-Houston  systems.  The  electric  lamps  light  34 
lineal  miles  from  dark  to  daylight,  each  and  every  night.  They 
are  suspended  on  ordinary  poles  20  feet  high,  and  cost  24  cents, 
25  cents,  39  cents,  40  cents,  50  cents  and  60  cents  per  lamp  per 
night,  according  to  the  several  contracts.  The  wires  at  present 
are  strung  overhead,  but  an  underground  conduit  or  subway  is 
being  constructed.  The  contract  expires  annually.  New  bids 
recently  opened  are  as  follows:  Brush  Electric  Light  Com- 
pany, 441  lamps  at  35  cents  per  night;  United  States,  411  lamps 
at  35  cents;  Harlem,  36  lamps  at  26  cents,  186  lamps  at  28 
cents,  156  lamps  at  29  cents,  55  lamps  at  35  cents,  19  lamps  at 
50  cents,  and  7  lamps  at  60  cents;  Mount  Morris,  22  lamps  at 
17£  cents,  79  lamps  at  23  cents,  31  lamps  at  28  cents,  52  lamps 
at  29  cents  each,  129  lamps  at  32  cents  each,  and  23  lamps  at 
40  cents  each;  East  River,  493  lamps  at  35  cents;  Ball,  90  lamps 
at  27£  cents,  on  Broadway  and  Sixth  avenue,  from  Twenty-third 
to  Fifty-ninth  streets;  North  New  York,  238  lamps  at  35  centa, 
153  lamps  at  29  cents  each  per  night. 

NORTHAMPTON,  Mass.,  has  80  Thomson-Houston  lights,  of 
1,500  candle-power  each,  which  are  placed  on  poles  and  mast- 
arms.  The  lights  burn  until  midnight  25  nights  per  month,  at 
a  cost  of  $75  each  per  year.  Contract,  annual. 

NORFOLK,  Va.,  pays  $80  each  per  year  for  155  Brush-Swan 
lights,  burning  all  night  and  every  night.  Pole  system;  wires 
overhead;  contract  annual.  Four  square  miles  are  lighted. 

NORWALK,  Ohio,  uses  82  Western  intersection  lights  under 
a  five-year  contract,  which  cost  $70  per  lamp  per  year.  The 
lights  average  six  hours  per  night.  Wires  overhead. 

OGDEN,  Utah,  has  eighteen  lights  placed  at  street  intersec. 
tions,  675  feet  apart,  in  the  business  sections,  which  cost  $13S 
each  per  year. 

OMAHA  pays  $180  per  year  for  four  lights  at  railroad  cross, 
ings,  and  $206  each  per  year  for  eight  lights  burning  all  night 
on  her  viaduct. 

ORANGE,  N.  J.,  has  426  gas  lamps  and  fifteen  electric  lamps, 
which  light  one  and  one-half  square  miles  at  the  street  intersec- 


50  THE    CONTRACT,    OB    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

tions.     The  lights  burn  all  night,  and  the  cost  entire  is  $11,000 
per  year.     The  two-year  contract  expires  December  1,  1888. 

OSWEGO,  M.  Y.,  has  142  Remington  lights  which  burn  on 
poles  at  street  intersections  all  and  every  night  for  34  3-5  cents 
each  per  night,  or  $125  per  year.  The  contract  runs  three 
years;  wires  overhead.  Two  and  one-half  square  miles  are 
lighted. 

OTTAWA,  Canada,  pays  $80  each'per  year  for  the  first  70  of  its 
217  Thomson-Houston  lights  and  $100  per  year  for  each  of  the 
others,  burned  on  the  moon  schedule  and  hung  on  poles  30  feet 
high.  Contract  three  years;  wires  overhead.  About  three 
square  miles  are  lighted.  Poles  are  600  feet  apart;  water  power 
is  used. 

OTTAWA,  Kan.,  has  40  Sperry  arc  lights  and  200  Heisler  in- 
candescent lights  placed  on  poles  with  arms.  The  Heisler  lights 
cost  $10  each  per  year,  burned  until  midnight,  and  $16,  burned 
all  night.  The  contract  runs  three  years. 

PATERSON,  N.  J.,  uses  70  Arnoux  lamps  on  swinging  arms, 
which  burn  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  The  cost  is  $90  per 
lamp  the  first  year,  $100  the  second  year,  and  $105  the 
third  year;  wires  overhead. 

PEORIA,  111.,  with  225  lamps  of  the  Jenney  system,  lights  fif- 
teen square  miles,  using  towers  and  intersections.  The  cost  is 
$145  per  lamp  per  year,  burned  all  night  and  on  all  but  moon- 
light nights.  Overhead  wires  are  used.  The  contract  is  for 
five  years. 

PETERSBURG,  Va.,  fifty-two  miles  of  streets  and  alleys  are 
lighted  with  gas  and  electricity.  The  Thomson-Houston  system 
is  used,  furnishing  82  lights  for  $96  each  per  annum.  Pole  and 
intersection.  Wires  overhead.  Contract  expires  in  1892. 
There  are  297  gas  lights. 

PHILADELPHIA  the  past  year  has  been  lighted  by  561  lights 
of  the  Brush,  Thomson-Houston,  Fort  Wayne  Jenney  and 
United  States  systems.  The  lights  are  scattered  over  the  city 
on  poles  owned  by  the  city.  Seven  and  a  half  miles  of  wire 
are  underground  in  cables  owned  by  the  city,  the  balance  over- 
head. The  lights  burn  all  night  and  every  night,  and  the  aver- 
age cost  has  been  55  cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $200  per  year. 
This  was  unsatisfactory,  and  bids  were  advertised  for  under  a 
new  contract.  Bvd  ranged  from  35  cents  to  50  cents  per  light 


THE   CONTRACT,    OB   RENTAL   SYSTEM.  51 

per  night.     A  proposition  for  the  city  to  own  its  own  plant  is 
now  under  consideration. 

PITTSBURG  employs  22  electric  lights  on  her  wharf  for  which 
she  pays  $185  per  year. 

PORTLAND,  Maine,  lights  3£  square  miles  with  168  arc  lamps 
of  1,200  candle  power  each,  and  250  incandescent  lamps  of  32 
candle  power  each,  for  $26,000  per  year.  Extra  arc  lights  cost 
$140  each  per  year  and  incandescent  lights  $18  each  per  year. 
The  arcs  are  Thomson-Houston  and  the  incandescents  Edison. 
The  lamps  are  burned  from  dusk  to  daylight  each  and  every 
night.  The  pole  system  is  principally  used  with  overhead 
wires.  The  contract  is  for  one  year.  No  other  light  is  used. 

PORTLAND,  Oregon,  has  555  incandescent  and  27  arc  lights 
of  the  United  States  system.  The  incandescent  lamps  are 
placed  on  old  gas  posts  and  the  arcs  are  hung  by  ropes  over  the 
intersections  of  streets.  The  lights  burn  all  night  and  every 
night  and  cost  $24.10  per  year  for  the  incandescent  and  $170 
each  per  year  for  the  arcs.  The  contract  runs  two  years. 

PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H.,  uses  fifty  Thomson-Houston  pole  lights,, 
which  burn  until  midnight,  and  cost  $100  each  per  year.  Gas 
and  naptha  are  also  used.  The  three-year  contract  expires  in 
November,  1889. 

POTTSVILLE,  Pa.,  has  58  Schuyler  lamps,  35  gas  lamps  and  20 
oil  lamps.  The  electric  lights  are  on  poles,  burn  all  night  and 
cost  8105  each  per  year.  Contract  annual. 

POUGHKEEPSIE,  N.  Y.,  lights  the  entire  city,  2f  square  miles, 
all  night  and  every  night,  with  187  Thompson-Houston  lights, 
for  which  it  pays  $123  each  per  year.  The  lamps  are  suspended 
at  intersections;  overhead  wires;  contract  annual. 

PROVIDENCE,  R.  L,  pays  50  cents  each  per  night  for  295 
Thomson-Houston  and  United  States  lights  burning  all  and 
every  night.  The  pole  system  has  been  used,  but  in  the  new 
contract  recently  made  the  mast-arm  is  introduced.  Wires 
overhead. 

QUINCY,  111.,  has  158  intersection  Thomson- Houston  lights, 
covering  3j  square  miles,  not  burning  on  moonlight  nights. 
Price  $120  per  lamp  per  year;  contract  for  five  years;  wires 
overhead;  general  satisfaction. 

RACINE,  Wis.,  has  100  Brush  and  Thomson-Houston  lights, 
part  of  which  burn  all  night  and  the  others  until  midnight. 


52  THE    CONTRACT,    OB    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

For  the  former  the  annual  cost  is  $70  per  lamp,  and  $50  per 
lamp  for  the  shorter  circuits.  Poles  are  used  with  overhead 
wires;  contract  annually. 

READING,  Pa.,  lights  a  portion  with  107  Arnoux  lights,  pay- 
ing 45  cents  per  lamp  per  night,  moonlight  nights  excluded. 
Intersection  system;  overhead  wires;  annual  contract.  Inter- 
vening streets  are  lighted  by  gas.  There  is  no  competition. 

RICHMOND,  Va.,  has  118  Schuyler  lamps  placed  on  poles, 
burning  all  night  for  40  cents  each  per  night,  or  $146  per  year. 
Wires  overhead ;  contract  for  five  years. 

ROCHESTER,  N.  Y.,  has  617  Brush  and  United  States  arc 
lights  and  700  twenty  candle  power  Edison  incandescent  lights, 
burning  all  night  and  every  night.  Under  the  contract,  which 
is  for  five  years,  the  price  for  Brush  lights  is  30  cents  per  light 
per  night  for  the  first  two  years,  28  cents  for  the  second  two 
years  and  27  cents  for  the  fifth  year.  The  price  for  the  United 
States  lights  is  28-J-  cents  per  light  per  night  for  five  years. 
The  incandescent  lights  cost  4  cents  each  per  night  the  first  year, 
4£  cents  the  second,  4f  cents  the  third,  5f  cents  the  fourth,  and  6 
cents  the  fifth.  The  pole  system  with  overhead  wires  is  used. 
There  are  also  1,750  gas  lamps. 

ROCK  ISLAND,  111.,  uses  11  towers  with  two  Brush  lamps  on 
each,  paying  for  each  lamp  $30  per  month,  or  $360  per  year. 
Thijs  was  under  a  five  years'  contract.  The  service  was  not 
satisfactory,  for  the  reason  that  but  two  lights  were  placed  on 
each  tower,  and  under  a  new  three  years'  contract  32  mast-arm 
lamps  have  been  added  at  the  rate  of  $75  per  lamp  per  year. 
The  lights  burn  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule. 

ROME,  N.  Y.,  is  lighted  by  100  intersection  Remington  lights, 
which  burn  all  night,  for  45  cents  each,  or  $164  per  year.  Three 
square  miles  are  lighted,  under  a  three-year  contract,  which  ex- 
pires next  October. 

ST.  JOSEPH,  Mo. — Proposals  have  been  made  for  $180  per 
light  per  year. 

SACRAMENTO,  Cal.,  uses  36  Thomson-Houston  intersection 
lights,  which  burn  all  night,  except  on  moonlight  nights,  at  a 
cost  of  $252  each  per  year.  Contract  runs  two  years;  overhead 
wires.  There  are  193  gas-lights. 

SAGINAW,  Mich.,  lights  three  square  miles  with  66  Jenney 
lights,  using  12  towers,  125  feet  high,  of  four  lights  each,  and 

\ 


THE  'CONTRACT,  OR  RENTAL  SYSTEM.  53 

18  intersection  mast-arms.  The  lamps  burn  until  3  o'clock  A. 
M.,  and  cost  $125  per  year  for  each  tower  light  and  $100  per 
year  for  each  low  light.  Contract  annual;  wires  overhead. 

SALEM,  Mass.,  has  143  Thomson-Houston  lights,  suspended 
on  cables  at  street  intersections,  burning  every  night  and  all 
night.  The  price  is  $47  each  for  the  first  100  lights  and  $45 
for  all  over  100.  Contract,  two  years;  wires  overhead. 

SAN  ANTONIO,  Texas,  a  Brush  plant  has  -just  been  estab- 
lished. The  city  uses  60  arc  lights,  burning  all  night  24  nights 
in  the  month,  at  a  cost  of  60  cents  per  night  per  light.  The 
system  is  pole  and  intersections;  wires  overhead;  contract  runs 
two  years.  At  present  three  square  miles  are  lighted.  Gas 
costs  $24  per  lamp. 

SANDUSKY,  Ohio,  five  miles  square,  uses  125  intersection  West- 
ern and  Brush  lights,  burned  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule,  for 
which  it  pays  $82.50  each  per  year.  Contract,  annual;  wires 
overhead.  The  plant  was  put  in  last  November. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  Cal.,  lights  a  portion  of  the  outlying  dis- 
tricts with  Brush  lights.  Twenty-one  lamps,  of  16,000  candle- 
power  each,  are  placed  singly  on  masts  150  feet  high,  and  17 
lamps,  of  2,000  candle-power,  are  placed  on  poles  20  to  40  feet 
high.  Lamps  burn  all  night,  except  on  the  night  preceding  and 
the  night  following  full  moon.  The  16,000  candle-power  lamps 
cost  $5.28  per  night,  and  the  2,000  candle-power  66  cents  per 
night.  Contract,  annual;  wires  overhead. 

SAVANNAH,  Ga.,  lights  four  square  miles  with  100  Brush 
lamps,  placed  on  towers  and  at  intersections.  The  lamps  burn 
all  night  and  every  night,  at  a  cost  of  70  cents  each  per  night, 
or  $255  per  year.  Wires  overhead;  contract,  three  years. 

SCHENECTADY,  N.  Y.,  lights  eleven  miles  of  streets  with  95 
lights  of  the  Remington  system.  The  lights  burn  all  night, 
are  placed  at  intersections,  with  overhead  wires,  and  cost  47 
cents  per  lamp  per  night,  or  $171.55  per  year.  Contract,  three 
years. 

SCRANTON,  Pa.,  has  200  Brush  lights,  swung  on  poles  and  at 
the  intersection  of  streets,  which  burn  every  night  and  all 
night,  under  a  three-years'  contract,  at  20  cents  per  light  per 
night,  or  $73  per  year.  The  wires  are  strung  overhead.  Four 
square  miles  are  lighted.  Gasoline  is  used  in  the  outskirts,  at 
$22.50  per  light  per  year. 


54  THE    CONTRACT,    OR   RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

SEDALIA,  Mo.,  in  addition  to  gas,  gasoline  and  coal  oil,  uses 
eighteen  intersection  lights,  twelve  of  which  burn  all  night  for 
$145  each  per  year,  and  five  burn  until  midnight  for  $120  each 
per  year.  The  three-year  contract  expires  July  10,  1889. 

SELMA,  Ala.,  has  fifty  Thomson-Houston  lights,  which  swing 
at  street  intersections  and  light  three  square  miles.  The  lights 
burn  on  the  moon  schedule  and  cost  $120  each  per  year. 
The  contract  is  ^annual. 

SOMERVILLE,  Mass.,  uses  70  American  lights,  on  poles  20  to 
30  feet  high,  until  1  o'clock  every  morning.  Price,  37  cents 
per  night  per  lamp,  or  $135  per  year;  contract,  annual;  wires 
overhead.  Gas  and  oil  is  also  used. 

SOUTH  BEND,  Ind.,  has  20  United  States  lamps,  placed  on 
poles  and  scattered,  with  wires  overhead.  The  lights  burn  un- 
til midnight  every  night  in  the  year,  for  $100  each.  The  con- 
tract is  annual. 

SPRINGFIELD,  Mass.,  50  Thomson-Houston  pole  lights,  burn- 
ing all  night,  every  night;  cost  60  cents  each  per  night,  or  $219 
per  year;  wires  overhead;  contract,  annual.  Some  private  light 
wires  are  underground. 

SPRINGFIELD,  Ohio,  has  54  intersection  Thomson-Houston 
lights,  which  cost  $130  each  per  year.  The  lights  burn  all 
night  and  light  about  four  square  miles.  Wires  overhead; 
contract,  yearly. 

STOCKTON,  Cal.,  has  just  put  in  100  Jenney  lights,  which 
light  two  square  miles  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  The 
lights  are  placed  on  eleven  towers  and  57  mast-arms.  They 
cost  $165  each  per  year.  Two  years'  contract. 

STILLWATER,  Minn.,  lights  2-J  square  miles  with  204  United 
States  incandescent  lamps,  of  25  candle-power  each,  at  a  cost 
of  $23  per  light  per  annum;  the  lights  are  placed  on  gas-posts 
owned  by  the  city,  where  such  posts  exist,  and  the  moon  sched- 
ule is  followed  up  to  4  o'clock  A.  M.  Wires  overhead;  contract 
for  five  years. 

SYRACUSE,  N.Y.,  has  280  Thomson-Houston  lights,  which  burn 
all  night,  for  $144  each  per  year.  Pole  system;  wires  overhead; 
contract,  three  years. 

TAUNTON,  Mass.,  has  20  Arnoux  lights,  which  burn  until  mid- 
night, and  cost  50  cents  each  per  night,  or  $182.50  per  year. 
Overhead  wires  are  used;  lights  at  intersections  of  streets; 
contract,  from  year  to  year. 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM.  55 

TERRE  HAUTE,  Ind.,  lights  four  square  miles  with  221  Thom- 
son-Houston lights,  placed  on  mast-arms  at  alternate  street  in- 
tersections. The  lights  burn  2,500  hours  during  the  year,  and 
cost  $88.33  each.  Contract,  three  years;  wires  overhead. 

TOLEDO,  Ohio,  has  two  contracts.  The  first  was  made  with 
the  Brush  Company  at  55  cents  per  light  per  night,  or  $165  per 
year,  when  there  was  no  competition;  the  second,  with  the  West- 
ern Company,  when  competition  was  strong,  is  for  $40  per  year 
per  light.  Fifty  intersection  lights  are  used,  burning  all  night, 
300  nights  in  the  year.  Wires  overhead;  three  years'  con- 
tract; runs  another  year.  The  central  part  of  the  city  only  is 
lighted. 

TORONTO,  Canada,  has  125  Excelsior  lamps  on  a  few  of  the 
principal  streets.  The  lights  cost  55  cents  each  per  night,  or 
$200  per  year;  are  placed  on  poles,  and  burn  3,735  hours  dur- 
ing the  year.  Contract  runs  five  years.  The  wires  are  strung 
overhead,  but  the  Council  has  been  trying  to  secure  legislation 
to  compel  the  companies  to  place  all  wires  underground. 

TRENTON,  N.  J.,  on  the  principal  streets  are  76  Brush  lights, 
placed  on  mast-arms,  which  burn  all  night  and  every  night. 
Price,  50  cents  per  night  per  light,  or  $182.50  per  year.  Con- 
tracts for  one  and  two  years;  wires  overhead.  Gas  and  naph- 
tha is  used  in  the  outskirts. 

TROY,  N.Y.,  has  392  pole  lights  of  the  Brush  and  Thomson- 
Houston  systems.  They  burn  all  night  and  every  night,  and 
cost  43^  cents  each  per  night,  or  $158.77  per  year.  Wires  over- 
head; contract,  annual.  There  are  266  gas  lamps  which  cost 
10  cents  each  per  night. 

UNION  CITY.,  Ind.,  has  just  made  a  five-year  contract  for 
Thomson-Houston  lights,  burning  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule, 
for  $91.25  each  per  year.  There  are  now  20  lights  placed  on 
poles  at  the  intersections  of  streets,  which  light  one  and  one- 
quarter  square  miles. 

UTICA,  N.  Y.,  has  recently  entered  into  a  contract  with  a 
New  York  company  to  light  its  entire  territory  with  Jenney 
lights,  on  towers  and  intersections,  for  $42,000  per  year,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  a  committee  of  citizens  appointed  by  the  mayor. 
The  cost  of  lighting  the  city  in  1885  was  $46,000,  with  gas  and 
naphtha,  and  $48,000  in  1886  with  gas,  naphtha  and  electricity. 
There  are  298  lights,  and  they  burn  all  night.  The  contract  is 
for  three  years. 


56  THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL    SYSTEM. 

VICKSBURG,  Miss.,  has  40  Thomson-Houston  pole  lights,  which 
burn  all  and  every  night,  at  a  cost  of  $144  each  per  year.  No 
other  light  is  used.  The  contract  is  for  two  years. 

WABASH,  Ind.,  is  lighted  entire  for  one  square  mile  by  127 
Heisler  incandescent  lights  placed  at  street  and  alley  intersec- 
tions. The  lamps  burn  until  midnight,  and  cost  $2,300  per 
year.  The  five-year  contract  expires  in  1893.  No  other  light 
is  used. 

WALTHAM,  Mass.,  has  32  Thomson-Houston  lights,  on  poles, 
which  burn  until  1  o'clock.  Oil  and  gas  is  also  used.  The 
electric  lights  cost  35  cents  each  per  night,  or  $127  per  year. 
Contract,  annual. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  but  87  public  lamps  are  used.  These 
are  the  United  States,  Thomson-Houston  and  Brush,  and  burn 
all  night  and  every  night,  at  a  cost  of  65  cents  per  night  each, 
or  $237.25  per  year.  The  lamps  are  placed  on  poles,  and  the 
wires  are  underground  in  a  terra  cotta  conduit.  Contract  an- 
nual. 

WATERBURY,  Conn.,  burns  90  arc  lamps  of  2,000  candle  power 
each,  and  48  lamps  of  1,200  candle  power  each,  of  the  Thomson- 
Houston  system  until  1  o'clock  A.  M.  26  days  each  month.  The 
lights  are  on  poles  with  overhead  wires;  light  3^  square  miles 
and  cost  33J  cents  each  per  night.  The  cost  of  full  and  divided 
arc  lights  is  the  same.  Contract  three  years. 

WATERTOWN,  N.  Y.,  has  102  Excelsior  lights  placed  at  the 
intersections  of  streets  which  light  eight  and  one-half  square 
miles,  until  1  o'clock.  The  contract  is  for  seven  years,  and  the 
price  $68  per  lamp  per  year. 

WICHITA,  Kansas,  uses  75  lights  of  the  Thomson-Houston 
and  Schuyler  systems.  They  are  placed  at  the  intersections  of 
streets,  and  burn  until  midnight,  at  a  cost  of  $100  per  light  per 
year.  There  is  no  contract.  The  city  also  uses  120  gas-lamps 
and  300  gasoline  lamps. 

WILKESBARRE,  Pa.,  has  32  Excelsior  lights,  which  cost 
39  6-10  cents  each  per  night,  or  $144.54  per  year.  The  lights 
burn  all  and  every  night,  are  placed  on  poles  with  overhead 
wires;  contract  for  one  year;  gas  lights  cost  $20;  naphtha  $18. 

WILLIAMSPORT,  Pa.  The  lowest  bid  received  is  $95  per  light 
per  year  on  a  two-year  contract,  lights  to  burn  every  night  and 
all  night. 


THE    CONTRACT,    OR    RENTAL   SYSTEM.  57 

WINOXA,  Minn.,  uses  61  Van  Depoele  lights  on  towers  and 
at  street  intersections,  and  lights  twelve  square  miles.  The  lights 
burn  all  night  on  the  Philadelphia  schedule  and  cost  $125  each 
per  year.  The  contract  runs  five  years. 

WOBURN,  Mass.,  has  forty  pole  lights,  which  illuminate  about 
two  square  miles.  Eight  burn  all  night,  the  remainder  until 
midnight,  and  the  entire  cost  is  $3050  per  year.  Gasoline  is 
also  used.  The  two-year  contract  expires  in  May,  1889. 

WOOSTER,  Ohio,  has  30  Schuyler  lamps  placed  at  intersec- 
tions 400  feet  apart,  which  cost  $108  per  year  per  light,  burn- 
ing all  and  every  night.  Gas  and  gasoline  is  used  on  the  Phil- 
adelphia schedule.  Contract  two  years. 

WORCESTER,  Mass.,  a  few  of  the  principal  streets  are  lighted 
with  138  Thomson-Houston  lamps,  placed  on  bridges  over  in- 
tersections of  streets,  and  using  overhead  wires.  The  contract 
is  for  three  years  and  the  cost  55  cents  per  night  per  lamp, 
burning  each  and  every  night,  all  night,  or  $200  per  year. 

YONKERS,  N.  Y.,  uses  50  Schuyler  and  Thomson-Houston 
lights  placed  on  poles.  The  lights  burn  all  night  and  cost  $50 
and  $60  each  per  year.  Contract  three  years.  Gas  is  also  used. 

YOUNGSTOWN,  Ohio,  has  169  Thomson-Houston  lights,  within 
three  and  three-quarters  square  miles.  The  lights  are  on  poles 
and  mast-arms  with  overhead  wires,  burn  until  2  o'clock  A.  M.r 
according  to  the  Philadelphia  schedule.  Price  $64"  per  lamp 
per  year;  contract  annual. 

In  every  city  but  three  the  wires  are  strung  overhead.  The 
three  exceptions  are  Philadelphia,  Washington  and  Denver. 
In  other  cities  there  are  underground  wires  in  operation,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  pages  devoted  to  that  subject,  but  so  far 
as  public  lights  are  concerned,  the  three  cities  named  are  all. 
No  element  connected  with  electric  lighting  varies  so  much  as 
the  cost.  There  are  almost  as  many  different  prices  paid  as 
there  are  cities  enumerated. 


Munieipaf  tei 


HE  entrance  of  municipalities  into  the  field  of 
electric  lighting  is  comparatively  a  new  ele- 
ment of  competition  which  private  companies 
have  been  called  upon  to  meet.  It  is  only 
within  very  recent  years  that  the  attention  of 
corporations  has  been  directed  to  the  advantages  of  doing 
their  own  lighting  on  a  principle  similar  to  that  on  which 
they  have  been  furnishing  their  own  water.  Investigations 
have  been  set  on  foot  by  many  city  councils,  looking  to  the 
purchase  and  operation  of  a  plant,  and  the  question  has 
risen  naturally  to  others:  If  we  can  furnish  ourselves  with 
water  cheaply,  why  cannot  we  also  furnish  light  ?  Is  one  any 
mofe  a  governmental  question  than  the  other  ?  Is  it  not  good 
political  economy  as  well  as  a  sound  business  method  ?  So 
general  has  been  the  consideration  of  this  subject,  that  it  will 
undoubtedly  soon  become,  if  it  has  not  already,  a  leading  topic 
in  municipal  ethics. 

It  can  scarcely  be  gainsaid  that,  kept  aloof  from  the  intrigues 
of  politicians  and  the  influence  of  corrupt  agencies,  the  possession 
and  operation  of  an  electric  lighting  plant  for  public  purposes 
is  a  commendable  investment  for  a  city.  The  system  should  not 
be  condemned  because  some  of  the  barnacles  that  may  attach 
themselves  are  undesirable. 

The  purchase  of  plants  has  thus  far  been  largely  confined  to 
smaller  places,  which  have  required  smaller  plants  and  a  lesser 
outlay.  Some  of  the  cities  in  this  class  have  operated  their 
plant  long  enough,  however,  for  a  demonstration  of  practica- 
bility and  economy,  and  the  information  obtained  is  set  forth 
in  the  following  pages: 


MUNICIPAL   LIGHTING.  59 

AT    BAY    CITY,    MICH. 

October  13,  1886,  the  street  lighting  committee  of  the  Bay 
City,  Mich.,  Council,  presented  a  report  of  its  investigations 
into  the  subject  of  buying  a  plant  and  doing  its  own  lighting. 
So  much  of  this  report  as  is  pertinent  is  herewith  given: 

"  After  a  full,  deliberate  and  impartial  consideration  of  the 
subject,  and  with  the  additional  aid  derived  from  a  complete 
investigation  by  other  members  of  the  council  and  city  officials, 
and  with  the  most  earnest  endeavors  to  act  for  the  best  inter- 
ests of  Bay  City,  to  secure  the  best  light  for  the  least  money, 
and  to  make  no  agreement  unless  fully  guaranteed  and  war- 
ranted to  indemnify  the  city  against  all  losses,  we  respectfully 
report  in  favor  of  the  plan  that  the  city  purchase,  operate  and 
maintain  a  plant  of  its  own.  As  to  the  power  of  the  city  so  to 
do,  there  is  no  question,  as  special  provision  therefor  is  made 
in  the  charter,  and  it  is  a  function  natural  to  and  fully  within 
the  powers  and  attributes  of  a  municipal  corporation.  Our 
reasons  are  substantially  as  follows: 

"The  amount  of  the  capital  supposed  to  be  invested  by  the  city 
in  this  enterprise,  including  the  interest  upon  the  sum  invested 
and  the  cost  of  operating  and  maintaining  the  same, would  effect 
a  saving  to  the  city  as  compared  with  the  cheapest  light  offered 
on  the  basis  of  an  annual  rental,  of  about  $5, 000  per  annum.  We 
are  of  the  opinion  that  the  saving  to  be  effected  by  the  adop- 
tion of  the  plan  we  recommend, would,  in  the  course  of  six  years, 
pay  the  expenses  of  operating  the  plant,  also  the  interest  on  the 
investment  and  the  purchase  money  invested  in  the  plant.  Or, 
in  other  words,  that  the  sum  so  expended  would,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  be  equivalent  to  the  rental  *  *  *  and 
the  city  would  in  addition  become  and  remain  the  owner  of  the 
plant,  besides  having  during  that  period  furnished  its  own 
light.  The  city  would  thus  be  the  gainer  by  the  amount  in- 
vested in  the  plant;  whereas,  on  the  rental  system,  the  money 
paid  out  for  the  use  or  service  rendered  would  be  irrevocably 
gone  without  anything  remaining  over  and  above  the  light 
furnished. 

"  Having  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  clearly  for  the  in- 
terests of  the  city  to  own,  operate  and  maintain  its  own  plant, 
provided  that  it  can  be  made  sure  without  possibility  of  doubt  or 
mistake,  that  a  saving  can  be  effected  as  above  explained,  your 
committee  had  under  consideration  *  *  *  several  bids 
*  *  *  for  furnishing  the  city  a  complete  electrical  plant,  in- 
cluding all  the  items  and  apparatus  requisite  for  the  production 
of  the  best  electric  arc  light  possible,  including  building,  boil- 
ers, steam  engines,  dynamos,  etc.  *  *  * 

"The  Jenney  [the  lowest  and  the  successful]  company  war- 


60  MUNICIPAL   LIGHTING. 

rant  that  the  cost  of  running  the  plant  of  120  lights,  repairing 
and  maintaining  the  same,  shall  not  exceed  $6,000  per  annum. 
The  actual  estimated  cost  is  only  about  $4,500  per  annum.  In 
support  of  these  figures  the  committee  found  at  one  place  they 
visited  that  the  actual  cost  of  running  and  maintaining  a  thir- 
ty-light plant  was  only  $1,000  per  annum;  at  another  place 
forty-seven  lights  cost  only  $2,500  per  annum;  at  still  another, 
sixty-four  lights  cost  annually  $2,900.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  these  lights  are  operated  by  the  city,  and  on  all  dark 
nights,  rainy  or  cloudy  weather,  irrespective  of  the  phases  of 
the  moon.  All  these  plants  are  owned  by  the  city,  and  the 
facts  regarding  them  were  obtained  from  the  city  officers.  Such 
facts  irresistibly  forced  the  conclusion,  that  $4,500  per  annum 
is  a  reasonable  estimate  of  the  annual  expense  of  running 
120  lights. 

"The  charge,  that  the  efficiency  and  economy  of  the  conduct 
and  maintenance  of  the  plant  will  be  affected  injuriously  by 
political  appointments,  which  will  become  the  objects  of  parti- 
san strife  and  contention,  has  little  or  no  weight  in  this  case, 
as  the  company  making  the  proposition  insists  on  the  condition 
of  naming  or  approving  the  superintendent  in  charge  of  the 
works. 

"  In  conclusion  we  would  state  that,  in  every  city  we  visited 
which  was  operating  its  own  plant,  we  found  everybody  per- 
fectly satisfied.  It  was  the  same  story  everywhere.  Violent 
opposition  and  bitter  fight  at  first — adoption  of  the  system  and 
purchase  of  a  plant  by  the  council — small  expense  for  operating 
-  great  saving  to  the  city  —  good  lights  running  whenever 
wanted — everybody  satisfied — would  not  be  without  it  at  any 
cost." 

Bay  City,  now,  has  twenty-nine  lights  placed  on  towers,  and 
ninety-one  on  mast  arms  at  street  intersections.  These  light 
five  square  miles  until  one  o'clock  A.  M.  The  plant  cost,  com- 
plete, $30,280,  has  been  running  a  little  over  one  year,  and  is 
operated  through  a  board  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
council.  The  statement  of  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  this 
commission  shows  the  average  cost  per  light  to  be  $39.60  per 
year.  The  system  is  the  Indianapolis  Jenney,  and  the  wires 
are  strung  overhead. 

Mayor  Hamilton  W.  Wright,  of  Bay  City,  says: 

«*  *  *  Our  plant  is  entirely  satisfactory.  We  are  run- 
ning 120  lights,  at  a  maximum  cost  per  annum  of  $39.60  per 
light.  We  had  100  mast  arm  lights,  and  five  towers  125  feet 
high  with  four  lights  each.  Recently  we  purchased  a  high 


MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  61 

tower  *  *  *  and  transferred  nine  mast  arm  lights  to  it,  dis- 
continuing the  same  number  of  mast  arm  lights,  the  total  number 
remaining  the  same.  We  had  been  renting  eighty-seven  lights 
at  $100  each  per  annum,  making  a  total  of  $8,700  against  $4,752 
at  present.  Allowing  interest  at  five  per  cent,  on  investment 
of  $30,280,  which  equals  $1,514,  and  two  per  cent,  for  wear  and 
tear,  which  equals  $605.60,  we  have  a  total  cost  of  $6,871.60 
for  running  120  lights,  as  against  $8,700  for  renting  eighty- 
seven  lights.  We  would  not  abandon  our  present  system  on 
any  consideration.  Even  those  who  most  bitterly  opposed  it 
are  now  entirely  reconciled  and  satisfied." 

LEWISTON,   MAINE. 

Lewiston,  Me.,  owns  a  100-arc  light  plant  of  the  American 
system.  The  lights  are  placed  on  street  intersections,  with 
overhead  wires,  and  burn  all  night  and  every  night.  Further 
information  is  given  in  the  following  communication  from  D. 
J.  McGiLLicucDY,  Mayor  of  Lewiston: 

a*  *  *  The  city  of  Lewiston  has  an  electric  lighting 
plant,  owned  and  operated  by  the  city.  The  plant  is  now  in 
process  of  construction,  and  will  be  completed,  ready  to  light 
the  city,  in  about  three  weeks. 

"We  have  heretofore  lighted  our  city  by  electric  lights  partly, 
and  partly  by  naphtha  and  gas.  About  four  years  ago  we  be- 
gan lighting  portions  of  the  city  by  electricity.  We  let  the 
contract  to  a  private  company,  who  put  in  a  plant  here,  and  it 
cost  us  from  55  cents  to  65  cents  per  light  per  night,  arc  lights 
running  till  12  o'clock.  With  our  own  plant,  as  per  our  esti- 
mate, it  will  cost  us  only  14  cents  per  night  per  light,  lamps 
running  all  night.  We  shall  run  our  plant  by  water  power, 
which  the  city  also  owns.  Our  plant  will  be  100  arc  lights, 
and  all  complete,  ready  for  operation,  will  cost  the  city  about 
$14,500;  this  includes  $1,800  for  a  water  wheel." 

A  month  later  Mayor  McGiLLicuDDY  writes: 

"Our  electric  lighting  plant  has  been  in  operation  now  a  little 
over  a  month.  It  gives  the  very  greatest  of  satisfaction,  and 
we  would  not  think  of  such  a  thing  as  going  back  to  the  old 
system,  even  if  they  would  give  us  the  lights  cheaper  than  we 
can  get  them  ourselves.  We  find  it  a  great  advantage  to  have 
control  of  our  own  lights,  and  again  we  get  our  lighting  done 
so  much  cheaper.  Our  lights  cost  us,  running  all  night,  less 
than  15  cents  per  light  per  night,  reckoning  interest  on  the 
cost  of  plant  and  all  expenditures  of  every  kind,  including 
wear  and  tear  of  machinery,  and  we  get  far  better  light  and 
better  results  in  every  way  than  when  our  city  was  lighted  by 
a  private  company." 


62  MUNICIPAL   LIGHTING. 

HANNIBAL,    MO. 

Mayor  S.  F.  RODERICK,  of  Hannibal,  Mo.,  writes: 

"Our  plant  is  owned  and  operated  by  the  city.  *  *  *  We 
are  a  city  of  15,000  people.  Our  present  number  of  lights  is 
98 — 52  of  these  are  for  lighting  the  city  and  46  are  rented  for 
commercial  purposes.  Of  the  city  lights,  44  are  on  eleven 
towers  and  8  on  poles  and  mast-arms. 

"The  total  cost  of  operating  last  year,  every  item  of  expense, 
was  $6,282.92.  Our  income  from  rentals  was  $4,219.20,  leav- 
ing a  total  expense  for  our  city  lighting  of  $2,063.72,  for  an 
all-night  light,  of  unequalled  brilliancy,  and  giving  the  great- 
est satisfaction  to  the  people,  as  there  is  not  a  dark  street  in  the 
city,  and  we  claim  the  best-lighted  city  in  the  world. 

"These  figures  and  statements  are  facts,  and  should  prove  to 
any  one  the  utility  and  advisability  of  each  city  owning  and 
operating  their  own  lighting  plant.  Then,  if  there  are  any 
changes  to  be  made,  lights  to  be  added  or  lights  to  remove, 
there  is  no  additional  expense,  only  of  wiring  and  cost  of 
lamp.  All  profits  accrue  to  the  people,  where  they  rightly  be- 
long. You  always  have  the  matter  under  immediate  control, 
and  can  so  conduct  it  as  to  be  of  the  greatest  good  to  the 
greatest  number." 

The  system  is  the  Fort  Wayne  Jenney. 

PARIS,  ILL. 

J.  M.  BELL,  Mayor  of  Paris,  111.,  gives  the  following  particu- 
lars of  the  subject  for  his  city: 

"We  could  not  get  an  oifer  to  light  our  city  for  less  than 
$3,000  per  year,  such  as  we  have  now.  The  city  owns  the 
water-works,  as  well  as  the  electric  light  plant,  and  both  plants 
are  built  together,  and  we  use  the  same  boilers  and  building 
for  both.  Consequently  it  is  run  cheaper  than  to  have  them 
separate.  One  engineer  and  one  fireman  run  both,  and  one 
superintendent  runs  all;  so,  you  see,  that  we  cut  considerable 
expense  on  that  score.  We  have  the  Fort  Wayne  Jenney  light. 
We  have  52  lamps,  including  four  towers,  run  by  two  38-lamp 
dynamos,  with  one  Bass  engine  of  70-horse  power.  We  have 
ten  miles  of  wire,  in  a  city  of  6,000  inhabitants,  and  have  one 
of  the  best-lighted  cities  that  I  have  seen  anywhere.  *  *  * 
The  expense  last  year  was  a  little  over  $2,300.  I  do  not  think 
that  the  expenses  will  exceed  $2,000  this  year.  We  had  been 
paying  from  $3,500  to  $3,800  for  lighting  the  city  by  gas,  and 
not  one-third  as  good  a  light.  We  think  we  can  run  our  light 
for  about  $1,800  per  year.  Our  citizens  are  well  pleased  with 
our  light,  and  it  gives  entire  satisfaction.  *  *  *  We  figure 


MUNICIPAL   LIGHTING.  63 

that  the  saving  from  what  it  now  costs  us,  and  what  we  origi- 
nally paid,  will  in  seven  years  pay  for  itself,  interest  and  all." 

D.  D.  HUSTON,  a  member  of  the  Paris  Council  at  the  time 
the  plant  was  purchased,  writes: 

"Our  city  owns  a  plant  consisting  of  an  80  horse-power  en- 
gine, boiler,  two  30-light  dynamos,  with  37  drop-lamps  hung  at 
the  intersections  of  streets  in  the  thickly-settled  or  business 
part  of  the  city,  and  wnth  four  towers,  125  feet  high,  with  four 
lamps  each.  Our  light  has  given  general  satisfaction,  and  by 
use  of  the  towers  the  alleys  and  outskirts  of  the  city  are  as 
well  lighted  as  the  central  part  of  the  city.  Our  plant  is  oper- 
ated in  connection  with  our  water  plant,  it  being  owned  by 
the  city,  enabling  us  to  operate  our  plant  somewhat  cheaper 
than  were  it  alone,  as  our  pumps  are  always  in  operation,  so 
our  light  can  be  turned  on  at  any  moment,  not  having  to  wait 
to  fire  a  boiler.  It  also  enables  the  city  to  operate  the  light  at 
a  less  expense  than  an  individual  or  company  could,  not  owning 
machinery  that  is  always  in  motion. 

"Many  reasons  pro  and  con  were  advanced  before  our  plant 
was  purchased.  First,  that  it  would  have  a  tendency  to  purify 
city  politics,  as  these  light  companies  are  generally  composed 
of  sharp,  shrewd  men.  Their  stock  is  distributed  where  it  will 
do  the  most  good  in  making  city  contracts,  sometimes  Alder- 
men and  even  Mayors  being  interested.  It  was  observed,  also, 
the  company  took  a  special  interest  in  city  elections.  Men 
who  never  seemed  to  care  who  was  made  Legislator,  Congress- 
man, Governor  .or  President,  would  shell  out  their  money,  go 
into  the  wards  and  voting  precincts  and  spend  their  time  and 
money  to  elect  a  man  Alderman  who  never  had  any  credit  or 
standing  in  the  community  he  lived  in.  It  was  a  common 
thing  for  Councilmen  to  burn  free  gas,  sprinkle  his  streets  and 
lawn  with  free  water,  or  such  that  the  city  was  paying  for. 
There  was  a  constant  issue  of  this  kind.  Politics  cut  no  fig- 
ure. The  question  was:  'Are  you  for  the  light  company?' 
.  "Go  into  any  city  where  light  is  furnished  by  contract  and 
get  the  sentiment  of  the  tax-payers,  and  you  will  find  they  are 
not  satisfied,  but  tolerate  it,  fearing  it  might  be  worse.  It  is 
not  always  economy  we  want,  nor  the  expense  that  tax-payers 
complain  of;  it  is  paying  for  something  you  don't  get.  No 
board  has  yet  been  able  to  make  a  contract  with  a  light  com- 
pany that  gave  satisfaction  to  the  tax-payers.  Most  contracts 
are  based  on  so  many  hours  lighting,  taken  from  the  moon 
schedule.  Frequently  our  darkest  nights  are  when  the  moon 
should  be  bright;  so,  in  this  event,  we  can  turn  our  light  on,  if 
for  only  a  fraction  of  an  hour.  We  have  found  it  to  be  econo- 
my. 


64  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 

"Our  light  has  been  in  operation  here  since  Sept.  1st,  1885. 
While  we  have  some  five  times  more  territory  lighted  than  we 
had  before,  we  find  the  expense  only  amounts  to  about  two- 
thirds  the  cost  as  when  done  by  contract,  and  it  has  been  done 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  and  with  a  great  relief  to  the 
Board  of  Aldermen.  Our  people  seem  to  feel  an  interest;  and 
should  anything  go  wrong  and  the  light  not  be  up  to  expecta- 
tion, they  do  not  feel  that  they  are  paying  for  something  and 
getting  nothing." 

MADISON,    IND. 


MADISON,  Ind.,  lights  five  square  miles  with  81  Indianapolis 
Jenney  lights,  swung  on  mast-arms  at  street  intersections.  The 
lamps  burn  all  night  and  every  night;  wires  overhead.  The 
plant  is  owned  and  operated  by  the  city. 

JOHN  A.  ZUCK,  City  Clerk  of  Madison,  writes: 

"The  plant,  entire  and  complete,  including  the  power,  which 
was  built  here,  cost  the  city  about  $18,500.  It  is  owned  and 
managed  by  the  city  at  a  cost  of  $4,500  per  annum.  The 
city  has  been  lighted  by  electric  light  nearly  three  years,  and 
we  think  we  have  the  finest  lighted  city  in  the  world.  Previous 
to  the  adoption  of  the  light,  gas  was  used,  and  cost  about  $8,000 
per  annum.  The  electric  light  will  cost  for  the  present  year 
very  little  more  than  half  what  the  gas  did,  and  is  so  far  supe- 
rior as  a  light  that  there  is  no  comparison." 

J.  T.  BRASHEAR,  Mayor  of  Madison,  writes: 

"We  have  been  operating  our  electric  light  plant  twenty 
months.  We  have  the  Jenney  system  of  Indianapolis.  We 
have  three  dynamos  of  30  lights  each.  We  have  82  lamps, 
suspended  about  30  feet  high  at  the  intersection  of  the  streets. 
About  fourteen  miles  of  wire,  divided  into  three  circuits,  each 
dynamo  operating  upon  its  own  circuit.  Our  system  for  light- 
ing the  streets  with  gas  and  gasoline  cost  the  city  $8,000  per 
year.  The  last  year,  with  electric  light,  cost  $4,600,  or  $55  per 
lamp,  making  a  saving  to  the  city  of  $3,400  per  year,  and  the 
light  is  so  much  better  than  the  old  system — in  fact,  there  is  no 
comparison.  Our  citizens  are  well  pleased  with  the  light.  The 
City  Council  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  visited  our  city  the  first  of 
this  month,  and  it  was  their  judgment  that  we  had  the  best- 
lighted  city  they  had  visited.  They  were  so  well  pleased  when 
they  returned  home,  that  they  contracted  for  a  120-light  plant. 


t  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  65 

TOPEKA,    KANSAS. 

The  experience  of  TOPEKA  in  the  investigation  and  purchase 
of  its  plant  is  thus  described  by  City  Clerk  GEORGE  TAUBER: 

"Our  city  advertised  for  bids  for  the  purchase  of  a  120-arc 
light  plant.  *  *  *  After  due  examination  by  a  committee 
of  the  Council  to  investigate  the  various  kinds  of  systems,  and 
having  received  from  five  to  nine  different  proposals,  the  Coun- 
cil adopted  the  Jenney  light,  of  Indianapolis,  and  awarded  the 
contract  to  them  (complete  plant,  except  building),  120  lights, 
for  $26,196,  with  the  further  guarantee  that  the  cost  per  light 
per  month  for  eight  hours  shall  not  exceed  $4.50,  and  for  all- 
night  light,  $6." " 

The  report  of  the  electric  light  committee  appointed  by  the 
Topeka  Council,  upon  which  the  plant  was  furnished,  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

"We  visited  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  Terre  Haute,  Indiana- 
polis, Columbus  and  Madison,  Ind.  We  included  in  our  exam- 
ination the  systems  of  the  Thomson-Houston,  Brush,  Fort 
Wayne,  American,  and  Jenney  of  Indianapolis.  Each  of  these 
systems,  *  *  *  we  saw  in  two  or  more  of  the  cities  named. 
Each  of  us  made  tests,  reading  and  otherwise,  of  the  different 
lights.  *  *  *  Several  of  the  committee  read  ordinary  news- 
paper print  at  a  distance  of  280  feet  *  *  *. 

"At  Madison,  Indiana,  we  found  the  city  most  beautifully 
lighted;  that  city  having  for  several  years  paid  over  $8,000 per 
annum  for  gas  and  gasoline,  and  finally  turned  to  electricity. 
This,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  city  owns  one-fifth  of 
the  stock  of  the  local  gas  company,  owns  and  operates  its  own 
plant,  and  *  *  *  their  own  station.  The  cost  of  the  run- 
ning expense  of  their  plant  as  per  statement  now  in  the  hands 
of  our  city  clerk,  for  the  first  year  *  *  amounted  to 

$4,500,  a  little  less  than  $55  per  light  per  year.  They  have  had 
very  little  repairs  and  its  citizens  are  perfectly  satisfied  with 
the  light.  *  *  * 

We  found  that  at  Bay  City,  Michigan,  the  city  is  operating 
and  owning  its  own  plant;  they  have  122  arc  lights;  the  run- 
ning expenses  for  122  lights  was  $5,125.26  per  year,  or  $42  for 
each  light  per  annum,  the  plant  costing  $30,000. 

"The  city  of  Aurora,  Illinois,  owns  and  operates  its  own 
plant  (Thomson-Houston  system).  They  have  seventy-two 
lights,  2,000  candle  power,  the  running  expense  being  $4,200  per 
annum,  or  about  $57.33  per  lamp  per  annum. 

"We  find  that  the  Schuyler  system  in  use  at  Wichita  as  per 
statement  of  our  city  clerk,  for  250  lamps  of  2,000  candle 


66  f  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  * 

power,  is  about  $59.40,  or  $4.95  per  lamp  per  month.     *     * 

"Your  committee  find  the  operating  of  plants  by  cities  is 
meeting  with  great  and  increasing  favor;  in  fact,  the  sum  saved 
over  ordinary  rental  prices  will,  it  is  estimated,  in  the  course 
of  five  or  six  years,  cover  the  value  of  the  plant  and  operating 
expenses;  meanwhile  it  appears  to  us  there  can  be  no  question 
that  for  the  best  interests  of  the  city  of  Topeka,  we  would  rec- 
ommend that  the  city  own  and  operate  its  own  plant  and  light 
by  electricity,  because  we  are  satisfied  that  from  information, 
figures  and  facts  gathered,  the  light  can  be  produced  at  about 
one-third  of  the  best  rental  price  yet  offered,  *  * 

The  bids  were  all  based  on  the  city  engineer's  specifications, 
and  were  as  follows: 

Brush  Co. ,  with  high  speed  engines $34,925 

Brush  Co. ,  with  low  speed  engines 25,140 

Guaranteed  limit  of  cost  of  lighting  per  annum : 

For  all  night  every  night. 10,080 

By  moonlight  schedule 9,640 


Indianapolis  Jenney  Co. ,  high  speed,  two  12x12  Ball  engines.  $26,496 

Low  speed 27,430 

Guaranteed  limit  of  annual  cost. 

All  night  lighting  $8.00  per  light  per  night 11,520 

Moonlight  schedule  $6.00  for  light  per  night 8,640 


Thomson-Houston  Co.,  with  high  speed $26,950 

With  low  speed 27,775 

Guaranteed  limit  of  cost  of  running: 

All  night 7,000 

Moonlight  schedule 4,800 


Western  Electric  Co. ,  high  speed $23,210 

This  company  estimates  the  annual  cost  exclusive  of  coal: 

All  night 4,300 

Moonlight  schedule 3,800 


Schuyler  Co.,  with  high  speed $24,663 

Withlowspeed 25,091 

Cost  of  running: 

All  night 7,700 

Moonlight  schedule 5,500 


CHAMPAIGN,    ILL. 

H.  L.  NICHOLET,  City  Clerk  of  Champaign,  111.,  writes: 

"This  city  does  not  own  the  electric  plant  in  use  here,  but 
has  the  option  of  purchasing  within  six  months  from  the  time 
the  plant  was  in  successful  operation,  if  satisfactory.  The 
plant  (Western  Electric)  has  not  been  in  operation  quite  a 
month,  and,  so  far,  gives  good  satisfaction.  We  have  at  pres- 


MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  67 

ent  forty  2,000  candle  power  arc  lights,  the  rate  for  same  being 
$80  per  light  per  annum.  The  lamps  are  hung  upon  mast-arms. 
The  price  of  plant,  should  the  city  purchase,  is  $4,700.50,  with 
reduction  from  same  of  rental  paid  up  to  purchase  of  same. 
Should  city  purchase,  the  company  agree  to  furnish  the  power, 
;ind  run  it  for  the  sum  of  $1,800  per  annum,  which  is  $45  per 
year  for  each  light." 

Mayor  L.  S.  WILCOX,  of  Champaign,  writes: 

"Our  city  is  lighted  by  40  arc  lights  of  the  Western  Electric 
Company's,  Chicago,  system.  Lights  are  suspended  by  mast- 
arms  at  intersection  of  streets.  The  cost  to  the  city  of  the  40 
lights,  45  light  dynamo  and  11  miles  circuit,  was  about  $6,000. 
The  city  hire  the  lights  operated  until  about  12  o'clock  at 
night  every  dark  night  for  a  total  expense  of  $1,800  per  year. 
Counting  interest  on  the  $6,000  at  6  per  cent,  the  total  cost  to 
the  city  for  their  lighting  is  $2,160.  The  cost  of  these  lights 
if  rented  from  the  company  would  be  at  least  $3,200  per  year." 

HUNTINGTON,    IND. 

Concerning  the  plant  owned  by  Huntington,  Ind.,  S.  F.  DAY,. 
Mayor,  writes: 

"Our  city  bought  their  electric  light  plant  about  two  years 
ago  from  the  Fort  Wayne  Jenney  Co.  We  made  no  mistake 
when  we  decided  to  own  and  control  the  business.  We  use  50 
lights;  sixteen  are  on  towers,  and  34  swing  on  cross  streets, 
for  which  we  would  have  to  pay  a  company  from  $135  to  $150 
per  light.  Our  entire  expense  for  running,  per  year,  does  not 
exceed  $50  per  light,  or  $2,500  yer  year.  Our  report  last  year 
showed  $2,134  for  eleven  months.  So  you  can  see  a  good  sav- 
ing. Besides  we  have  our  city  lighted  any  time  we  choose 
without  extra  expense.  We  claim  to  have  the  best  and  cheap- 
est lighted  city  in  the  world — at  least,  I  have  never  heard  it 
disputed.  We  were  the  first  in  this  State  to  buy  outright. 
Many  since  have  imitated  us.  *  A  clear  saving  of  from 

$85  to  $100  on  each  light,  and  being  independent  of  a  company 
is  a  good  thing  to  have  in  a  family." 

DECATUE,    ILL. 

M.  F.  KAN  AN,  Mayor  of  Decatur,  111.,  writes: 

"We  have  an  electric  light  plant,  which  is  not  now,  but  will, 
I  presume,  become  the  property  of  the  city  in  the  near  future! 
Our  plant  is  being  operated  in  connection  with  our  water 
works  plant,  which  makes  it  much  cheaper  than  if  it  was  an 
independent  affair,  we  having  ample  boiler  capacity  for  both. 


68  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 

There  is  this  advantage  in  a  city  owning  its  own  plant — they 
can  have  light  whenever  they  feel  the  necessity,  as  for  example 
in  cloudy  weather,  which  may  occur  in  the  light  of  the  moon, 
which  might  not  be  provided  for  in  schedule  hours  of  contract 
or  rental  system.  I  believe  that  our  50  lights  can  be  operated  at 
an  annual  expense  of  less  than  $2,500,  as  it  is  now  being  run." 

AURORA,    ILL. 

.     Mayor  GEORGE  F.  MEREDITH,  of  Aurora,  111.,  writes: 

"Our  city  owns  and  operates  its  own  system  of  electric  light 
for  street  purposes.  We  employ  the  Thomson-Houston  system 
and  our  plant  consists  of  seventy-five  2,000-candle  power  lamps, 
two  dynamos  of  50  lamp  power  each,  an  Armington  &  Sims  high 
speed  engine  of  80  horse-power,  a  boiler,  and  other  appliances 
to  make  the  plant  complete.  The  electrical  apparatus  and 
power  for  operating  the  same  are  located  in  the  pumping  sta- 
tion of  our  water  works,  the  night  engineer  of  which  attends 
to  both  the  pumping  and  electrical  apparatus. 

"The  actual  cost  of  operating  our  electric  light  plant  as  above 
for  the  year  ending  Dec.  1,  1887,  was  $4,200.  When  I  tell  you 
that  for  three  years  previous  to  the  time  when  our  city  com- 
menced to  operate  its  own  system  of  electric  light  for  street 
purposes,  it  had  paid  the  local  Brush  electric  light  company 
$8,500  per  year  for  operating  26  lamps  of  2,000  candle  power 
each,  no  better  argument  can  be  made  in  favor  of  any  city 
owning  and  operating  its  own  system  of  electric  light  for 
street  purposes." 

MARTINSVILLE,    IND. 

R.  H.  TARLETON,  mayor  of  Martinsville,  Ind.,  is  the  single 
exception  to  the  general  run  of  the  foregoing  sentiments.  He 
writes  as  follows: 

"You  ask  in  regard  to  the  advantages  of  a  city  owning  an 
electric  light  plant,  rather  than  being  owned  by  a  company.  I 
do  not  see  much  advantage  in  a  city  owning  it.  I  would  pre- 
fer a  company  furnishing  us  the  light  at  reasonable  rates  and 
making  its  own  contracts  with  the  citizens.  The  lines  often  get 
out  of  fix;  the  dynamo  very  frequently  needs  repairs — it  is 
pretty  expensive,  all  things  considered.  I  cannot  recommend 
a  city  to  purchase  when  they  can  get  a  company  to  take  hold 
of  it.  The  light  is  fine,  and  we  receive  about  $1,000  per  year 
for  lights  furnished  business  houses,  which  cuts  down  our  ex- 
penses, but  still  I  would  prefer  that  the  plant  be  owned  by  a 
company  which  would  take  off  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  the 
city.  Our  plant  cost  a  little  over  $5,000. 


MI  M-ii'AL   I.H;IITIN«;.  69 

MICHIGAN    CITY,    IXD. 

Mi,  UK i AN  CITY,  Ind.,  owns  a  50  light  plant  of  the  Indiana- 
polis Jenney  system.  The  lamps  are  suspended  in  the  center 
of  streets  and  burn  until  1  o'clock  A.  M.  H.  A.  SCHWAGER, 
City  Clerk,  writes: 

"It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  give  the  exact  cost  of  operating 
our  plant,  as  we  use  steam  from  the  water  works'  boiler,  and  can 
only  estimate  the  amount  of  extra  fuel  used.  Our  light  was 
bitterly  opposed  at  first,  and  a  great  deal  of  criticism  from  par- 
ties interested  in  gas  and  other'lights  was  heard,  but  everybody 
is  for  the  lights  now.  The  plant  cost  $8,500,  and  the  cost  of 
maintenance  runs  from  $2,000  to  $2,500,  which  equals  $40  to 
$50  per  lamp  per  year." 

PORTSMOUTH,    OHIO. 

PORTSMOUTH,  O.,  owns  a  Thomson-Houston  plant  which  cost 
$18,000.  There  are  93  lamps  of  1,200  candle  power  each  in 
use,  each  lamp  costing  838  per  year.  The  lights  burn  when- 
ever necessary  early  and  late,  as  occasion  requires. 

PAINESVILLE,    OHIO. 

For  two  years  past  the  Western  Electric  Co.  of  Chicago  has 
been  operating  a  plant  for  lighting  the  streets  of  PAINESVILLE, 
O.,  at  a  cost  to  the  village  of  $72  per  light  per  year.  Mayor 
8.  K.  Gray  writes  that  the  "light  has  proved  very  satisfactory 
and  we  now  wish  to  extend  the  system,  and  it  is  believed  that 
we  can  add  20  more  lights  and  thoroughly  light  our  village, 
and  by  buying  the  plant  save  a  considerable  part  of  what  we 
now  pay.  Our  Light  Committee  have  the  subject  of  purchase 
under  consideration." 

YPSILANTI,    MICH. 

Mayor  CLARK  CORN  WELL,  of  YPSILANTI,  Mich.,  writes  as  fol- 
lows concerning  the  plant  in  operation  there: 

"Our  city  put  in  and  are  running  an  electric  light  plant  of 
61  arc  lights.  The  electric  plant  and  power  cost  about  $12,- 
000.  It  costs  $166  per  month  for  running  expenses.  It  is 
estimated  that  $2,500  per  year  will  cover  the  whole  running  ex- 
penses of  repairs,  etc.  We  are  about  adding  17  more  lamps,  and 
may  make  it  30  during  the  present  year,  which  will  reduce  the 
cost  per  light  for  running  expenses. 


70  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 

"We  have  five  towers,  which  certainly  give  better  results 
than  the  same  number  of  lamps  (20)  on  poles,  and  mast-arms 
hanging  the  lamps  at  intersection  of  streets.  I  am  satisfied  the 
city  can  operate  an  electric  light  plant  for  less  money  than  pri- 
vate parties  will  furnish  light.  We  run  lights  20  nights  and 
all  cloudy  nights  till  12:30  A.  M." 

GRAND    LEDGE,    MICH. 

PRESIDENT  J.  D.  SUMMERS,  of  Grand  Ledge,  Mich.,  writes: 

"Our  citizens  called  a  meeting  and  petitioned  the  village 
council. to  investigate  the  subject  of  light.  We  did  so. 
We  saw  the  Brush,  Thomson-Houston  and  the  Jenney.  I  will 
give  you  my  reasons  why  I  think  it  advisable  for  cities  to  own 
and  maintain  their  plant.  In  the  first  place,  if  it  will  pay  a 
company  a  profit,  it  will  pay  a  city  a  profit.  Before  our  village 
bought  the  plant,  we  offered  to  let  a  five  year's  contract  to  any 
individual  to  light  the  streets  for  $1,000  per  year.  We  could 
find  no  one  who  would  take  it  for  less  than  ten  years,  which 
we  refused.  We  then  bought  the  plant  which  cost  us  about 
$4,500,  without  the  power,  a  30-light  dynamo  and  all  the 
other  apparatus.  We  have  fifteen  lights  on  the  streets,  and 
fifteen  commercial  lights.  We  pay  $1,000  per  year  for  run- 
ning and  maintaining  the  plant.  We  get  a  revenue  of  $900  per 
year  for  the  commercial  lights;  so,  when  our  plant  is  paid  for, 
it  only  costs  us  about  $100  per  year  to  light  our  streets.  We 
think  it  is  the  finest  light  made,  the  nearest  like  sunlight,  the 
steadiest,  and  for  out-door  and  stores,  can't  be  beaten.  It  is 
the  Jenney." 

PHILADELPHIA. 

In  the  animal  report  of  the  Electrical  Bureau  of  Philadelphia 
for  1886,  Chief  WALKER  said: 

"In  the  last  annual  report  from  this  department,  a  suggestion 
was  offered  as  to  the  advisability  of  extending  the  electric  light 
service  to  all  parts  of  the  city,  in  connection  with  which  I 
would  add  that  the  lighting  of  our  public  thoroughfares  by 
electricity  has  reached  a  point  at  which,  I  think,  would  justify 
the  city  in  establishing  its  own  plant  for  that  purpose;  the  city 
owning  the  gas  and  water  works  would  have  the  power  neces- 
sary for  the  service,  and  would  be  at  little  additional  expense 
for  that  necessary  agent;  the  outlay  for  conductors,  lamps, 
dynamos,  and  other  machinery  would  be  the  greatest  expense. 
Its  first  cost  would,  in  a  measure,  be  returned  to  the  city  by 
saving  the  amount,  charged  by  private  companies  in  excess  of 
the  actual  cost  of  production,  and  also  by  the  increased  facili- 
ies  offered  for  public  lighting." 


LIGHTING.  71 


CHICAGO. 

CHICAGO  has  purchased  and  is  now  operating  a  plant  of  100 
lights,  with  which  it  lights  the  Chicago  river,  wharves,  bridges 
and  slips.  It  was  first  proposed  to  hire  the  lighting  done,  and 
bids  were  asked.  The  lowest  was  $65  per  light  per  year — this 
by  the  Western  Electric  Co.  This  was  not  satisfactory  to 
Supt.  John  P.  Barrett,  o'f  the  Electrial  Department,  and  the 
city  purchased  the  plant  and  is  now  operating  it  at  a  cost  of 
less  than  $50  per  year  for  each  light.  The  city  now  has  under 
consideration  a  proposition  to  purchase  a  plant  to  light  a  por- 
tion of  the  business  districts,  and  Supt.  Barrett's  estimate  for 
the  same  is  found  in  a  report  which  he  recently  made  to  the 
council.  The  estimate  is  as  follows: 

•  •  *  *  *  I  have  quite  thoroughly  investigated  the  various  systems 
submitted,  relative  to  their  fitness  for  the  purpose,  and  have  classified 
them  under  three  general  heads.  Two  of  these  are  of  the  incandescent, 
and  one  of  the  arc  variety  of  electric  light,  and  are  known  as — 

"1.  The  Central  Station  Incandescent  System. 

"2.  The  Municipal  Incandescent  System. 

".3.  The  Arc  Light  System. 

"In  the  Central  Station  Incandescent  System  the  distribution  is  made 
from  a  central  plant,  in  the  most  economical  manner,  by  what  is  known 
as  the  three-wire  system.  By  this  method  a  large  saving  is  made  in  the 
amount  of  copper  wire  used,  and  a  more  even  distribution  of  current  for 
either  light,  heat  or  power  than  by  other  methods.  In  order  to  thor- 
oughly cover  the  needs  contemplated  in  the  order  referred  to,  it  will  be 
necessary  that  the  capacity  of  the  plant  should  equal  an  average  constant 
demand  of  75,000  sixteen  candle-power  lamps  in  use,  with  connections, 
with  at  least  the  equivalent  of  175,000  such  lights.  This  form  of  wiring 
and  system  of  distribution,  when  once  installed,  will  thoroughly  and 
completely  adapt  itself  to  these  requirements.  The  system  is  an  ex- 
tremely flexible  one,  allowing  expansion  and  contraction  at  any  and  all 
times,  and  connections  may  be  made  or  discontinued  on  demand.  Means 
are  provided  by  which  an  accurate  system  of  accounting  between  the 
corporation  and  consumer  is  as  simple  as  with  gas  or  water  plants.  The 
pressure,  or  as  it  is  known  in  electricity,  the  potential  of  the  incandes- 
cent system,  is  extremely  low,  but  constant,  and  therefore  the  liability  to 
create  trouble  is  very  small.  The  light  is  agreeable  and  steady,  and  far 
more  healthful  than  that  obtained  from  any  form  of  illumination  where 
the  oxygen  of  the  air  is  consumed.  While  possessing  all  the  above  ad- 
vantages, the  creation  of  such  a  plant,  requiring  as  it  would  the  tearing 
up  of  the  principal  and  recently  paved  streets  of  the  city,  would  render 
its  cost  a  heavy  burden. 

"The  following  estimate  is  based  upon  a  capacity  of  75,000  lamps, 
averaging  840,000  lamp  hours  per  day: 

CENTRAL  STATION  INCANDESCENT. 

Underground  work,  trenching,  repairing,  etc $1,000,000 

Boilers,  engines,  steam-fitting,  belting,  shafting,  etc 400,000 

Electrical  appliances  and  machinery 550,000 

$1,950,000 


72  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 

"Real  estate,  building,  etc.,  for  plant  should  be  added  to  the  above 
estimate,  unless  property  already  possessed  by  the  city  could  be  made 
available— perhaps  at  the  water-works. 

ESTIMATED   DAILY   EXPENSE   OF   MAINTENANCE. 

Coal,  210  tons  at  $2.50 $  525  00 

Breakage,  1,050  lamps  at  85  cents 892  00 

Water,  10  cents  per  1,000  gallons 35  00 

Oil  and  waste 25  00 

Removal  of  ashes 15  00 

Meter  department 50  00 

Other  official  expenses 40  00 

Twenty  firemen,  $2.00 40  00 

Twenty  engineers,  $2.50 , 50  00 

Twelve  dynamo  and  regulator  men,  $1.50 18  00 

Depreciation,  repairs  to  dynamos  and  electrical  apparatus 40  00 

Depreciation  underground  plant 50  00 

Depreciation  steam 70  00 

Incidentals  not  named  above 20  00 

Total  estimated  daily  expenses $1,870  50 

"Total  estimated  expenses,  $1,870.50,  or  about  the  equ;^alent  of  gas 
at  50  cents  per  1,000  feet. 

"THE  MUNICIPAL   SYSTEM. 

"This,  like  the  former,  is  an  incandescent  system,  but  peculiarly 
adapted  for  out-of  door  purposes.  Some  of  its  advantages  are  that  it 
cannot  be  blown  out,  and  is  perfectly  steady  in  the  most  violent  wind. 
The  cost  of  cleaning  is  a  minimum,  and  it  is  readily  lighted  or  turned  off 
from  the  station  in  an  instant.  The  lights  contemplated  in  the  following 
estimates  are  of  thirty-candle  power,  but  if  desired  they  may  be  lamps 
of  various  candle  powers  upon  the  same  line.  The  electrical  pressure  in 
the  municipal  system  is  much  higher  than  that  in  the  central  station  incan- 
descent system,  but  is  below  that  in  the  ordinary  arc  light  systems.  It  is 
not  a  proper  system  to  introduce  into  dwellings  or  other  places  where 
possible  contact  would  be  made  by  accident.  In  underground  conduits 
or  pipes,  however,  and  handled  only  by  experts  trained  in  its  use,  it  is 
perfectly  safe  and  readily  controlled.  The  current,  which  in  the  arc  sys- 
tem is  concentrated  at  the  lamps,  is  in  this  system  capable  of  division 
into  smaller  lights,  and  these  may  be  more  frequently  placed,  thus  having 
the  advantage  of  more  perfect  distribution  and  more  uniform  illumina- 
tion. There  is  abundant  room  for  a  station  of  this  character  in  the 
quarters  now  occupied  by  the  city  river  plant,  should  this  system  meet 
the  approval  of  your  honorable  body,  and  an  expense  of  say  $8,000, 
would  suffice  for  the  necessary  changes  and  construction.  The  estimate 
is  based  on  an  average  lighting  of  seven  and  one-half  hours  per  day. 

THE  MUNICIPAL  INCANDESCENT   SYSTEM. 

Dynamos,  electrical  apparatus $  19,800  00 

Engines,  boilers,  etc 26,400  00 

Underground  conductors,  delivered  in  Chicago 16,500  00 

Gas-post  extensions 19,800  00 

Superintending  and  sundry  expenses 8,500  00 

Conduit,  including  trenching  and  repaving 442,698  00 


$533,698  00 
Buildings  for  station  as  above 8,000  00 

$541,698  00 


MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  73 

MAINTENANCE   PER    DAY. 

Coal $  50  00 

Oil,  waste,  etc 3  00 

Engineer  and  electrician 10  00 

Assistants 9  00 

Firemen 6  00 

Linemen 5  00 

Repairs 4  00 

Lamp  renewals 40  00 

$128  00 
Cost  of  maintenance  per  year,  $46,720. 

"THE  ARC   LIGHT    SYSTEM. 

"This  is  the  most  simple  of  the  systems,  and  is  identical  with  that  used 
by  the  city  on  the  river,  viaducts  and  bridges  at  Rush,  Lake  and  Twelfth 
streets.  The  estimate  is  based  upon  the  number  of  street  crossings  and 
middle  of  blocks  within  the  district  named.  Of  these  there  are  in  the 
northern  division,  222;  western  division,  254;  southern  division,  231;  a 
total  of  707  crossings  and  middle  of  blocks,  at  which  it  is  proposed  to 
place  a  lamp  of  2,000  estimated  candle-power,  with  a  capacity  for  all- 
night  illumination,  known  as  double  lamps.  Allowance  is  made  for  a 
limited  excess  above  that  number,  the  estimate  being  based  upon  750- 
lamp  capacity. 

ESTIMATED  COST. 

Dynamos  complete,  with  750  double  carbon  lamps $  55,350  00 

3,000  horse-power  engines,  boilers,  pumps,  heaters,  etc.,  com- 
plete      30,00000 

750  posts,  16  feet,  erected 1 1,250  00 

75  miles  underground  cable,  with  iron  pipe,  at  $1,500  per 

mile 112,000  00 

75  miles  trenching  and  repaving,  and  laying  cable  as  above. . .  218,630  00 
Rebuilding  present  station 8,000  00 

$435,230  00 

The  present  gas-lighting  schedule  includes  about  2,200  hours'  lighting 
per  annum,  or  an  average  of  something  over  six  hours  per  day.  Assuming 
this  as  a  basis  of  calculation,  the  following  estimate  of  yearly  mainte- 
nance is  given: 

Coal,  4,000  tons  at  $3.00 $12,000  00 

Carbons 3,500  00 

Oil,  waste  and  incidentals 3,500  00 

Chief  engineer  and  electrician 1,500  00 

Three  assistants 3,000  00 

Four  firemen 2,400  00 

Ten  trimmers  and  linemen 6,000  00 

Repairs 4,000  00 


$35,900  00 

"Assuming  that  there  are  3,273  public  and  private  street  lamps  within 
the  territory  named,  and  that  each  of  these  sheds  sixteen  candle-power 
light,  we  have  a  total  of  52,368  candle-power. 

"With  the  incandescent  system  3,273  lamps  of  thirty-candle  power 
each  would  give  98,190  candle-power. 

"Seven  hundred  and  fifty  arc  lamps  would  shed,  at  2,000  candle-power, 
a  total  light  equivalent  to  that  from  1,500,000  candles.     Allowing  for  any 


74  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 

possible  candle-power  claimed,  there  would  be  still  a  large  balance  in 
favor  of  electric  lighting. 

"It  would  seem  from  this  that  the  illumination  as  between  the  incan- 
descent and  the  arc  is  in  favor  of  the  arc,  but  the  distribution  is  more 
uniform  from  the  incandescent  than  from  the  arc. 

"The  street  incandescent  system  contemplates  the  use  of  a  low-pres- 
sure current,  and  a  lamp  of  nearly  double  the  candle-power  of  the  ordi- 
nary sixteen  candle-power  lamp.  These  are  to  be  placed  on  the  present 
gas  street-lamps,  with  extensions  as  shown  in  diagram  as  herewith  pre- 
sented. The  arc  lamp,  on  long  circuits,  because  of  its  high  tension  char- 
acter, is  difficult  of  insulation  restraint.  The  lamps  require  daily  attend- 
ance, replacing  carbons  and  maintaining  the  lamp  machinery  in  order, 
without  which  these  refuse  to  burn.  The  incandescent,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  a  light  which  requires  a  less  pressure  or  potential  of  current 
than  most  of  the  arc  lights,  and  insulation  is  comparatively  easier  on  that 
account.  There  is  no  machinery  to  become  clogged,  no  falling  dust  or 
sparks;  only  when  a  filament  is  worn  out  by  use,  or  a  globe  is  broken,  is 
there  need  of  a  trimmer.  The  light  is  less  powerful  than  that  from  the 
arc,  but  it  is  steady,  soft  and  agreeable,  and  being  enclosed  from  the 
weather,  is  not  as  liable  to  become  grounded. 

"A  very  material  fact  in  this  connection  is  the  difference  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  light,  which  to  me  argues  strongly  in  favor  of  the  incan- 
descent form  of  light  for  residence  streets,  where  trees  and  foliage  shade 
the  light.  With  this  system  the  same  amount  of  light  may  be  made  to 
uniformly  cover  a  large  space,  with  a  multiplicity  of  burners  scattered 
over  that  space.  The  estimates  above  are  based  on  such  distribution  at 
the  lamp-posts  now  used  for  gas,  thus  giving  nearly  twice  the  candle- 
power  at  each  of  such  posts.  For  points  where  powerful  concentration 
of  the  light  is  required,  as  at  the  bridges,  along  the  river,  viaducts  and 
parks,  the  2, 000  candle-power  arc  light  is  far  preferable;  but  where  the 
light  can  be  divided  so  as  to  cover  a  greater  extent  of  territory,  and  less 
illumination  is  required  at  some  one  point,  the  street  incandescent  system 
seems  to  me  to  be  the  more  advantageous.  The  arc  light  should  be  used 
in  the  business  portion  of  the  city,  and  the  incandescent  in  that  portion 
of  the  city  where  foliage,  shrubbery,  etc.,  is  located,  and  where  more 
equal  distribution  of  the  light  is  required.  *  *  *  " 

EASTON,    PA. 

Mayor  Charles  F.  Chidsey,  of  Easton,  Pa.,  writes  as  follows 
about  the  plant  which  his  city  owns: 

"  Our  electric  light  is  the  Western.  It  has  given  us  great 
satisfaction.  It  has  run  since  August  2,  1886.  We  have  a 
building  for  the  plant,  40x80;  two  Ide  engines  of  sixty  horse 
power  each;  two  boilers  of  seventy  horse  power  each;  three 
dynamos  of  twenty-five  light  power  each;  sixty-six  arc  lamps, 
suspended  over  intersection  of  streets,  and  twelve  miles  of  wire. 
We  have  a  paid  superintendent,  engineer,  fireman  and  two 
line-men.  Our  plant  costs  the  city  to  run  it  about  $7,000  per 
year,  or  $105  per  lamp  per  year.  Our  people  vote  it  a  success 
in  every  particular." 

LYONS,    IOWA. 

Mayor  J.  C.  Hopkins,  of  Lyons,  Iowa,  writes: 


MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  75 

"  Our  system  is  a  small  one  of  the  Ft.  Wayne  Jenney  patent, 
put  in  and  operated  by  the  city.  I  have  spent  considerable 
time  and  have  traveled  a  great  deal  with  a  view  of  investigat- 
ing electric  systems.  I  have  seen  almost  all  in  operation  prac- 
tically, and  I  have  had  over  a  year's  experience  with  the  Jenney. 
I  would  not  change  for  anything  I  have  seen. 

"  I  am  equally  firm  in  my  opinion  that  every  city  should  own 
and  operate  its  own  plant.  Ours  is  costing  us  to-day  an  average 
of  $30  per  lamp  per  year.  We  have  nearly  as  many  lamps  in 
the  hands  of  private  parties  as  we  have  street  lamps,  for  which 
we  charge  $6. 75  each  per  month,  and,  of  course,  that  is  deducted 
from  the  operating  expenses  in  my  estimate  of  net  cost.  Should 
we  enlarge  our  plant,  we  could  make  it  self-sustaining,  but  at 
present  we  are  unable  to  furnish  private  lamps  asked  for.  There 
are  parties  here  to-day  who  stand  ready  with  twenty-four  hours' 
notice  to  take  the  plant  off  our  hands  at  its  full  cost,  provid- 
ing a  reasonable  contract  be  made  for  lighting  the  city.  How- 
ever, should  we  enlarge  our  plant,  I  am  satisfied  it  will  soon 
be  self-sustaining,  and  I  think  any  city  can  accomplish  the  same 
result,  providing  exclusive  privileges  have  not  been  voted  to 
private  corporations." 

FAIRFIELD,     IOWA. 

T.  F.  Higby,  city  clerk,  writes: 

"  Our  light  is  run  in  connection  with  out  water-works,  using 
the  same  boiler  for  steam  and  the  same  engine.  Both  are  owned 
and  run  by  the  city,  under  direction  of  a  committee  of  the 
council.  The  system  is  the  Brush,  and  there  are  but  seven 
lights  placed  on  a  central  tower.  The  lights  burn  until  mid- 
night. The  estimated  cost  is  $1,200." 

LITTLE    BOCK,    ARK. 

On  and  after  July  1,  1888,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  will  be  lighted 
by  a  plant  owned  and  operated  by  the  city.  There  will  be  90 
Fort  Wayne  Jenney  arc  lights,  74  of  them  on  mast  arms  at 
street  intersections,  and  16  on  four  towers.  It  is  intended  that 
four  square  miles  will  be  lighted  all  night.  The  plant  cost 
$27,000. 

SHERMAN,    TEXAS. 

Sherman,  Texas,  has  just  purchased  a  plant  of  fifteen  Van 
Depoele  lights.  The  lights  are  placed  on  poles,  and  burn  all 
night.  The  estimated  cost  is  $80  per  light  per  year.  Gas  is 
also  used  at  present. 


76  MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING. 


NORTHAMPTON,    MASS. 

A  committee  of  the  Northampton  council,  to  whom  the  mat- 
ter was  referred  in  1886,  reported  that  the  city  could  establish 
and  maintain  an  electric  light  plant,  furnishing  arc  lights  of 
2,000  candle  power,  running  every  night  from  sundown  to  mid- 
night at  a  cost  of  $50  per  year  per  light,  on  a  liberal  estimate, 
and  the  city  clerk  says  that  had  the  Council  adopted  the  report 
the  saving  to  date  would  have  paid  one-third  the  cost  of  the 
plant. 

,  DETROIT. 

In  November,  1888,  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Detroit  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  investigate  the  practicability  of  the 
city  purchasing  and  operating  a  plant.  An  exhaustive  report 
has  been  prepared,  a  great  deal  of  the  information  of  which  is 
contained  in  this  book. 

In  summarizing  the  figures  obtained  from  cities  which  are 
doing  their  own  lighting,  the  report  says: 

"BAY  CITY,  Mich.,  runs  its  lights  on  the  moonlight 
schedule  until  one  o'clock  A  M.,  at  a  cost  of  $39.60  per  light 
per  year.  The  cost  under  a  contract  for  the  same  service  was 
$100. 

LEWISTON,  Me.,  with  water  power,  runs  all  night  and  every 
night  for  $54.75  per  light  per  year.  The  cost  under  the  con- 
tract system  was  $200.75  and  $237.25. 

HANNIBAL,  Mo.,  running  all  night  and  every  night,  costs 
$64.11  per  light  per  year. 

PARIS,  111.,  could  not  get  a  contract  for  light  i;or  less  than 
$3,000  per  year.  Qas  the  last  year  used  cost  $3,800.  The  cost 
of  maintaining  its  plant,  in  connection  with  the  water  works, 
ranges  from  $1,800  to  $2,000. 

MADISON,  Ind.,  paid  $8,000  per  annum  for  gas.  It  now 
maintains  its  electric  lighting  plant  for  $4,600. 

The  guarantee  for  the  new  plant  TOPEKA,  Kas.,  has  pur- 
chased is,  that  the  cost  of  maintaining  an  all-night  light  shall 
not  exceed  $96.00  and  for  a  moonlight  light  $72.  The  Brush 
Company  offered  a  guarantee  that  the  all-night  light  should 
not  exceed  $84,  and  moonlight  light  $80.33. 

The  Western  Electric  Company  agree  to  run  the  plant  at 
CHAMPAIGN,  111.,  if  the  city  purchases,  for  $45.00  per  light  per 
annum. 

The  cost  to  HUNTINGTON,  Ind.,  does  not  exceed  $50.00  per 
light  per  year. 

AURORA,  111.,  paid  the  Brush  Company  $8,500  for  twenty-six 
lights.  Now  it  maintains  seventy-five  lights  for  $4,200. 


MUNICIPAL    LIGHTING.  77 

The  cost  to  MICHIGAN  CITY  for  one  o'clock  lights  is  $40.00 
each  per  year. 

PORTSMOUTH,  O.,  pays  $38.00  for  a  divided  arc  light  burning 
whenever  necessary. 

CHICAGO  operates  a  plant  for  $50.00  per  light  per  year,  burn- 
ing all  night. 

The  cost  to  YPSILANTI  is  $32.33  for  a  midnight  light. 

The  highest  of  the  above  is  $64.00.  If  Detroit  were  to  light 
her  present  system  at  that  rate,  the  saving  would  reach  $77,540 
per  year.  If  the  cost  should  reach  $100.00,  which  is  more  than 
one-third  greater  than  any  data  shows,  the  saving  would  still 
be  $55,040.  For  1,000  lights,  the  standard  adopted,  the  saving 
would,  at  $64,  be  $135,665  per  year  ;  at  $100  it  would  be 
$99,665." 


fo  S3>uy  a  ipfarvL 


'HE  electric  light  is  unquestionably  the  most  eco- 
nomical and  effective  means  of  illumination  yet  pro- 
duced. Its  superiority  over  gas  and  oil  has  met 
with  full  and  public  recognition.  It  secures  free- 
dom from  impure  and  overheated  air,  from  noxious 
and  unhealthy  vapors;  it  affords  safety  from  fire  when  properly 
inaugurated,  and  yields  a  steady,  brilliant  light,  which  shows 
everything  in  its  true  color. 

All  cities  and  towns  in  the  United  States  of  any  size  will, 
sooner  or  later,  be  illuminated  by  electric  lights.  It  is  only  a 
question  of  time,  and  of  a  very  short  time.  This  being  the 
case,  it  is  important  that  those  intending  to  introduce  this 
method  of  illumination  should  be  posted,  both  as  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  light  and  the  commercial  value  of  the  various  sys- 
tems. There  are  nearly  a  score  of  systems  of  electric  lighting, 
good,  bad  and  indifferent,  which  are  being  operated  with  more 
or  less  success,  and  it  is  of  the  first  importance  that  the  intend- 
ing purchasers  should  examine  them  thoroughly,  and  become 
familiar  with  their  workings  before  deciding  upon  which  sys- 
tem they  will  adopt.  A  good  way  to  lay  the  foundation  for  an 
investigation  is  to  subscribe  for  and  read  one  or  more  of  the 
several  electrical  publications,  all  of  which  are  filled  with  the 
knowledge  which  the  searcher  seeks. 

There  are  several  points  in  regard  to  electric  lighting  in  gene- 
ral which  it  is  well  to  remember.  There  are  two  general  types 
of  arc  lamps;  those  working  with  a  clutch,  and  those  working 
with  gear.  The  two  schools  have  their  advocates.  Again, 
there  are  offered  in  the  market  lamps  of  different  degrees  of 
candle  power.  Some  are  1,200  candle  power,  and  some  are 
2,000  candle  power,  nominal.  None  of  these  lamps  run  at 


HOW    TO    BUY    A    PLANT.  79 

any  such  power.  The  average  2,000  candle  power  lamp  gives 
about  800  or  900  candle  power,  and  the  half-arcs,  or  1,200 
candle  power  lamps,  give  about  500  or  600  candle  power. 
Again,  great  stress  will  be  laid  upon  the  economy  of  power, 
some  systems  claiming  to  give  a  lamp  for  as  low  as  each  half 
horse  power  expended.  The  fact  remains,  however,  that 
to  give  what  is  generally  termed  a  2,000  candle  power 
lamp,  at  least  nine-tenths  of  a  horse  power  is  required.  Where 
the  claim  is  made  to  furnish  a  lamp  for  little  or  no  horsepower, 
it  should  be  understood  that  it  is  for  a  half-arc  of  nominal 
1,200  candle  power,  or  the  parties  are  misrepresenting.  It  is 
not  possible,  by  any  reliable  system  of  lighting,  to  give  a  con- 
tinuous and  satisfactory  2,000  candle  power  light  by  the  expen- 
diture of  much  less,  if  any  less,  than  a  full  horse  power  of 
energy.  On  long  circuits  it  will  require  more  than  a  horse 
power  per  lamp,  as  a  certain  per  cent,  of  current  is  lost  within 
certain  distances,  as,  for  instance,  a  station  which  puts  1,000 
lamps  upon  the  streets,  would  be  employing  fully  1,200  horse 
power  of  energy. 

Every  company  will  lay  stress  upon  its  automatic  regulation, 
and  some  will  claija  that  they  are  the  sole  owners  of  the  only 
method  by  which  it  can  be  accomplished.  The  truth  of  it  is 
that  there  are  several  good  systems  by  which  it  can  be  accom- 
plished, and  which  are  not  owned  by  any  one  company. 

The  elements  entering  into  a  successful  system  of  electric 
lighting  differ  in  no  respect  from  those  of  any  other  branch  of 
business,  and  are  briefly: 

1.  Economy  in  first  cost. 

2.  Economy  in  operation. 

3.  Simplicity  of  construction. 

4.  Durability. 

As  to  the  first  requirement,  the  time  has  come  when  electric 
light  apparatus  is  placed  upon  the  market  at  a  cost  no  greater 
than  that  required  for  any  other  piece  of  machinery  requiring 
equal  skill  and  value  to  material  of  manufacture. 

Economy  in  operation  is  attained  when  the  maximum  of  light 
is  produced  with  the  minimum  expenditure  of  power. 

The  advantage  of  simplicity  of  construction  is  that  it  gaur- 
;intees  freedom  from  annoying  interruptions. 

The  question  of  durability  is  a  difficult  one  to  solve,  and  one 


SO  HOW   TO    BUY    A    PLANT. 

upon  which  nothing  but  the  experience  of  others  should  have 
weight.  The  first  consideration  of  course  is  that  the  apparatus 
should  have  proper  care,  such  as  is  given  to  any  other  piece 
of  good  machinery.  If  the  station  is  not  in  good  hands,  do  not 
charge  everything  to  the  system.  The  problem  before  electri- 
cal engineers  has  been  not  simply  to  produce  a  good  light,  but 
also  to  produce  an  economical  light,  and  these  meritorious  ef- 
forts should  not  be  frustated  by  careless  or  ignorant  handling 
of  the  apparatus. 

As  is  now  generally  known,  electric  light  is  produced  simply 
by  expenditure  of  power;  consequently,  that  system  which  will 
produce  the  largest  quantity  of  light  from  a  given  amount  of 
power,  must  be  the  most  economical  and  prove  the  greatest 
success  commercially.  So  it  is  that  the  first  cost  alone  does 
not  determine  the  economy  of  a  system;  the  most  economical 
system  is  one  whose  running  expenses  for  power  and  attend- 
ance and  depreciation  are  least. 

Without  regard  to  description,  whether  steam,  water,  gas  or 
other  power  supplied,  there  should  be  at  least  one-fourth  more 
than  the  station  ordinarily  uses.  This  will  prove  most  econom- 
ical and  insure  good  results.  Never  should  an£  attempt  be  made 
to  run  electric  lights  where  there  is  lack  of  power;  it  is  simply 
waste  of  time,  useless  expense,  and  causes  general  dissatisfac- 
tion. 

In  selecting  engines  for  electric  lighting,  none  but  the  very 
best  should  be  adopted.  The  price  may  be  somewhat  higher 
than  the  common  engines,  but  ample  reward  will  be  given  by 
the  superior  results  obtained.  Since  electric  lighting  has  come 
in  vogue,  steam  engineers  have  turned  their  attention  to  the 
want,  and  very  fine  engines  have  been  brought  in  the  market. 
There  are  two  schools  in  this  field,  the  advocates  of  high  speed 
and  of  low  pressure  assuming  that  each  is  pre-eminently  the 
best.  Another  and  important  item  is,  that  steam  should  be  kept 
as  near  as  practicable  at  even  pressure.  In  cases  where  the  power 
is  taken  from  a  main  shaft  of  a  shop,  it  should  be  steady,  since 
variation  of  speed  will  produce  variation  of  current,  and  all 
will  reflect  in  the  light. 

When  the  speed  of  a  dynamo  has  been  determined,  it  should 
be  kept  there  as  nearly  as  possible.  It  is  in  all  cases  advisable 
to  use  independent  power  to  drive  electric-light  machinery. 


HOW    TO    HUY    A    PLA^T.  81 

The  speed  will  be  regular,  and  the  light  can  be  run  while  the 
machinery  is  at  rest.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  the  current 
in  a  dynamo  corresponds  exactly  with  the  power  which  drives 
it.  When  the  power  is  steady  the  current  will  be  steady,  and 
perfect  success  is  secured. 

To  install  a  plant  properly,  so  that  all  the  lights  burn  with 
equal  brilliancy  and  so  that  the  loss  of  energy  in  the  circuit  or 
"line-wires"  is  reduced  to  the  lowest  practical  limit,  is  a  pro- 
blem requiring,  in  addition  to  a  thorough  theoretical  knowledge 
of  the  subject,  a  large  and  varied  practical  experience  in  the 
erection  of  plants.  This  is  a  most  important  matter  to  the 
purchaser,  as,  where  there  is  competition,  advantage  might  be 
taken  of  the  general  ignorance  of  the  subject  to  cheapen  the 
cost  of  construction  by  loose  work  or  inferior  material,  which 
will  soon  make  the  expense  of  operating  the  plant  greater  than 
it  should  be.  The  purchaser  should  make  as  thorough  an  in- 
vestigation as  is  possible  before  deciding  on  a  system,  and 
should  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  a  good  dynamo,  a  good  lamp 
and  a  good  steam  plant,  though  all  are  necessary,  by  no  means 
insure  the  satisfactory  operation  of  a  plant.  The  certainty  of 
having  it  properly  installed  should  receive  as  much  considera- 
tion. 

When  the  subject  has  been  fully  canvassed,  complete  speci- 
fications of  just  what  is  wanted  should  be  made  out  and  sent 
to  all  reputable  electric-light  companies,  asking  for  bids  on  the 
same.  There  is  a  wide  difference  of  opinion  as  to  what  con- 
stitute proper  specifications.  Electric  engineers  differ  as 
widely  as  do  those  not  so  conversant  with  the  technical  side  of 
the  question.  In  all  cases  the  purchasers  should  prepare  or 
cause  to  be  prepared  their  own  specifications,  and  not  leave  the 
task  to  any  particular  companies. 

For  the  information  of  contemplating  purchasers  some  sam- 
ple specifications  are  appended.  They  are  divided  into  steam 
and  electrical  divisions,  and  these  in  turn  are  divided  into  the 
two  systems,  from  which  selections  must  be  made.  The  plant 
under  consideration  is  for  1,000  arc  lights  of  nominal  2,000 
candle  power,  or  4,000  incandescent  lights  of  nominal  50  can- 
dle power,  on  the  streets.  Multiples  of  this  can  be  made  to  suit 
the  size  of  plant  required. 


82  HO\V    TO    HUY    A    PI, ANT. 

(Illustration.) 
man  SPEED  STEAM  PLANT. 

ENGINES. — Twelve  engines  of  125  horse  power  each,  engines  to  be  of 
high  speed,  automatic  cut-off,  with  hammered  wrought  iron  or  cast  steel 
shafts.  Each  engine  to  be  provided  with  throttle  valve,  two  band  wheels 
turned  true  and  balanced,  oiling  devices  of  the  most  approved  type,  con- 
sisting of  side  feed  lubricator,  sight  feed  oil  cups  with  stands,  needle 
waives  and  wipers,  full  set  of  wrenches,  foundation  rods,  anchor  plates, 
etc.,  to  cover  complete  engine  ready  to  receive  steam  and  exhaust  pipes. 
Each  engine  to  have  a  heavy  cast  iron  self  containing  sub  bise  or  coping 
stone.  Said  engines  must  develop  the  given  horse  power  under  an  initial 
pressure  of  eighty  pounds  to  the  square  inch. 

BOILEUS.  —Twelve  tubular  boilers,  each  seventy-two  inches  in  diameter, 
•containing  sixty-four  four-inch  tubes,  sixteen  feet  long,  with  shell  exten- 
sion of  not  less  than  twelve  inches.  Each  boiler  to  be  provided  with  two 
man  holes,  one  located  on  top  of  shell  at  rear  end,  the  other  in  front  of 
heads  below  the  tubes,  said  man  holes  to  be  not  less  than  ten  inches  by 
sixteen  inches.  The  material  for  shell  to  be  best  quality  homogeneous 
flange  steel,  sixty  thousand  tensile  strength  per  square  mch  of  section, 
and  not  less  than  three  eighths  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  Material  for  heads 
to  be  of  same  material  and  of  same  tensile  strength,  and  of  not  less  than 
-nine  sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 

NOZZLES. — Each  boiler  to  be  provided  with  two  nozzles  riveted  to 
shell,  and  of  proper  size  for  steam  pipe  and  safety  valve  connections,  and 
•of  not  less  than  six  inches  in  diameter. 

BRACING. — Heads  to  be  thoroughly  stayed  to  shells,  by  Ions:  overlap- 
ping braces.  Each  stay-rod  to  be  made  of  best  Swedes  iron  of  not  less 
than  one  inch  in  diameter,  and  attached  with  solid  crowfoot  and  strap 
head  properly  riveted  to  heads  and  shell  plates. 

SEAMS. — Seams  to  be  tight  fitting,  and  rivet,  holes  punched  to  line  true 
one  with  the  other,  and  no  drifting  allowed  to  force  holes  in  line.  Holes 
out  of  truth  to  be  reamed  with  sharp  edged  cutting  tool  and  rivet  fitted 
to  hole  and  driven  straight  and  true.  All  joints  to" be  planed  or  chipped 
and  caulked.  AH  longitudinal  seams  to  be  double  riveted. 

TESTING. — Each  boiler  to  be  tested  to  one  hundred  and  fiit}r  pounds 
per  square  inch  hydrostatic  pressure. 

BOILER  FIXTURES. — Each  boiler  to  be  furnished  with  a  full  line  of  fix- 
tures complete,  including  full  fire  fronts,  liners,  grates  and  bearing  bars, 
return  draft  arch,  ash  doors  and  frames,  wall  binding  rods  and  back 
stays,  cast  iron  wall  brackets  for  supporting  boiler,  with  wall  plates  and 
expansion  rollers,  all  necessary  gauges,  steam  and  water  stop  valves,  blow 
off  check  and  safety  valves,  and  firing  tools.  Eacb  boiler  to  be  set  in 
separate  arch  and  to  be  entirely  independent  of  others. 

PUMPS. — Two  duplex  steam  lift  and  force  pumps  each  capable  of  sup- 
plying twelve  boilers  of  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  horse  power 
•each. 

INJECTORS. — Two  injectors  as  auxiliaries  to  steam  pumps  for  feeding 
boilers,  each  capable  of  delivering  7,500  gallons  of  water  per  hour  at  a 
steam  pressure  of  eighty  pounds. 

HEATERS. — Two  brass  tube  feed  water  heaters,  each  capable  of  supply- 
ing a  boiler  capacity  of  eight  hundred  horse  power. 

FURNACES. — Twelve  furnaces  (state  whether  with  or  without  automatic 
feeders  and  stokers),  placed  under  boilers  in  batteries  of  six  each  con- 
necting with  a  brick  chimney  eight  and  one-half  feet  inside  diameter  and 
not  less  than  one  hundred  and  forty  feet  high.  Said  furnaces  to  be  erected 
.by  the  bidder,  with  the  chimney. 

— Q-rates  to  b3  either  rocking  or  statio  mry  (state  which)  and  not 


HOW    TO    BUY    A    PLANT.  83 

to  have  less  than  fifty  per  cent,  air  space,  with  openings  of  not  more  than 
one-half  inch. 

STEAM  PIPING. — From  boilers  to  engines  one  main  line  of  steam  pipe, 
with  straight  way  stop  valve,  pipe  to  be  of  sufficient  diameter  to  supply 
twelve  engines  each  of  12o  horse  power,  with  branch  pipes  of  sufficient 
diameter  for  each  engine  in  each  of  which  there  is  to  be  straight- way 
stop  valves.  In  leading  pipes  from  boilers  to  main  line  there  is  to  be 
straight-way  stop  valve  placed  near  connection  of  said  pipes  with  boilers. 

EXHAUST  PIPES. — The  exhaust  pipes  of  each  engine  to  be  run  to  a 
main  exhaust  pipe  leading  to  heaters  and  this  main  pipe  to  be  of  sufficient 
diameter  to  allow  of  free  exhaust  from  eight  hundred  horse  power. 
Straight-way  valves  shall  be  placed  in  each  branch  exhaust  pipe  leading 
to  the  main.  From  each  heater  there  is  to  be  an  exhaust  pipe  leading  to 
top  of  building  of  not  less  than  sixteen  inches  diameter. 

WATER  PIPES. — Steam  and  water  pipes  between  main  steam  lines  and  1 
pump  and  injectors,  and  all  water  lines  between  water  works  connection  f 
to  conform  to  tabulated  sizes  required  for  pump  as  heretofore  specified. 

PROTECTION. — All  steam  exhaust  and  water  pipes  to  be  thoroughly  pro-4 
tected  with  sectional  pipe  covering. 

DOTY. — The  bidder  to  estimate  on  preparing  all  foundations  and 
masonry  and  to  deliver,  erect  and  connect  all  engines,  boilers,  heaters, 
pumps,  etc.,  and  turn  the  steam  plant  complete  over  to  the  purchaser 
ready  for  duty. 

ESTIMATES  to  be  in  detail,  stating  name  and  kind  of  each  article  and 
price,  and  guarantee  amount  of  fuel  per  horse  power  delivered. 

CORLISS  STEAM  PLANT. 

ENGINES. — Three  compound  condensing  Corliss  engines,  each  capable 
of  developing  six  hundred  horse  power,  with  a  boiler  pressure  of  ninety 
pounds.  The  material  and  workmanship  to  be  first-class  in  every  respect. 
Bidder  to  state  diameter  and  stroke  of  cylinders,  diameter  and  length  of 
engine  shafts,  diameter  and  length  of  main  bearings,  diameter,  face  and 
weight  of  fly  wheels.  Each  engine  to  be  provided  with  a  full  set  of 
graduating  oilers,  sight  feed  cylinder  oiler  and  set  of  hand  oilers  with 
tray.  The  oilers  to  be  so  arranged  that  they  may  be  refilled  while  the  en- 
gine is  in  operation. 

AIR  PUMPS  AND  CONI>T..\-KR-.—  Three  air  pumps  and  condensers  of 
the  spray  or  jet  type,  each  to  be  connected  to  one  of  the  above  engines 
and  to  be  of  proper  capacity  for  the  engine.  Bidder  to  state  diameter 
and  stroke  of  air  pump,  diameter  of  suction  and  overflow  pipes,  and  state 
whether  the  air  pump  is  driven  by  belt,  connecting  rod  or  independent 
steam  cylinder. 

BOILERS.— The  boilers  (state  kind)  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  lo  fur- 
nish the  steam  required  to  run  the  above  engines  up  to  1,800  horse  power, 
each  boiler  to  be  as  follows:  Sixty  inches  diameter,  sixteen  feet  long,  con- 
taining forty-four  tubes,  four  inches  in  diameter;  shell  of  boiler  eleven 
thirty-seconds  of  an  inch  thick;  heads  one-half  inch  thick;  dome  thirty 
inches  in  diameter  by  forty-four  inches  high,  double  riveted  to  shell; 
shell  of  dome  five-sixteenths  inches  thick;  head  of  dome  seven-sixteenths 
inches  thick;  all  to  be  homogeneous  steel,  60,000  pounds  tensile  strength. 
Longitudinal  seams  of  boiler  and  dome  to  be  double  riveted.  Two  cast 
iron  brackets,  riveted  to  each  side  of  boiler.  Boiler  to  have  one  manhole 
on  top  of  shell  and  one  manhole  in  front  head  under  the  tubes.  One 
full  front  with  anchor  bolts,  five  feet  grate  bars,  bearing  bars,  liners,  ash 
door  and  frame,  back  plate  for  arch,  binder  bars  and  rods.  One  set  of 
boiler  fixtures,  including  three  inch  pop  safety  valve,  two  inch  blow  off 
cock,  one  and  one-half  inch  feed  valve,  one  and  one-half  inch  check 
valve,  steam  gauge,  glass  water  gauge  and  gauge  cocks.  Suitable  breech- 
inn  of  No.  12  iron  to  connect  all  the  boilers  to  brick  stack. 


84  HOW   TO   BUY   A    PLANT. 

STEAM  PUMPS. — Two  steam  pumps,  each  large  enough  to  feed  the 
boilers  required  to  run  two  of  the  above  engines. 

PIPING. — All  necessary  pipes  and  valves  inside  of  boiler  and  engine 
house  to  connect  above  engines,  condensers,  boilers  and  pumps.  The 
steam  pipe  from  all  the  boilers  to  be  connected  to  one  header.  From  this 
header  one  supply  pipe  to  run  to  each  engine.  The  exhaust  pipes  to  be 
so  arranged  that  the  engines  can  be  used  non-condnsing  when  necessary. 

SHAFTING,  ETC. — (State  whether  one  or  two)  line  shaft  of  suitable 
diameter  and  length  to  [drive  forty  dynamos,  each  of  thirty  arc 
light  capacity.  A  suitable  number  of  ball  and  socket  pillow  block  bear- 
ings to  support  above  shaft.  Three  main  driving  pulleys,  one  to  be 
driven  by  each  engine,  these  to  be  arranged  with  hollow  sleeves  and  jaw 
clutches.  Forty  friction  clutch  pulleys,  each  of  proper  size  to  drive  one 
dynamo,  each  clutch  to  be  provided  with  a  lever  for  throwing  clutch  in 
and  out. 

BELTING. — (State  whether  one  or  two)  belt  from  each  engine  fly  wheel 
to  the  corresponding  driving  wheel  on  line  shaft  to  be  best  short  lap, 
oak-tanned  double  leather  belting.  Forty  dynamo  belts,  one  from  each 
of  the  friction  clutch  pulleys  to  its  corresponding  dynamo,  to  be  best 
light  double  leather  dynamo  belting. 

MASONRY. — The  engines,  condensers  and  feed  pumps  to  be  provided 
with  suitable  foundations  of  brick  or  rubble  stone,  with  cut  stone  cap 
stones.  The  shafting  to  be  supported  on  piers  built  of  brick  with  iron 
cap  plates.  The  boilers  to  have  substantial  brick  settings.  All  the  inner 
surfaces  of  the  walls  exposed  to  the  flame  to  be  lined  with  first-class  fire- 
brick. 

TESTS. — The  bidder  to  guarantee  the  number  of  pounds  of  water 
evaporated  per  hour  per  indicated  horse  power  required  for  each  engine 
when  developing  six  hundred  horse  power,  and  also  to  guarantee  the 
evaporation  of  the  boilers  using  (state  kind  of)  coal. 

ARC  LIGHTING  PLANT. 

DYNAMOS. — Forty  dynamos  of  thirty  arc  lights  each,  to  be  mounted 
on  adjustable  insulated  bases  with  belt  tightening  apparatus.  Each 
dynamo  to  be  provided  with  approved  lightning  arresters,  automatic  reg- 
ulator, to  fully  govern  and  control  the  current,  and  regulate  the  same  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  lamps  in  operation  from  one  lamp  to  the 
maximum  capacity  of  machine,  a  test  of  twenty -four  hours  to  be  guar- 
anteed. Each  dynamo  shall  be  provided  with  approved  ampere  meters, 
and  the  terminals  shall  be  taken  to  suitable  switchboards,  so  arranged  as 
to  enable  the  operator  to  manipulate  the  dynamos  and  circuits  at  will, 
with  the  least  possible  opening  of  circuit.  Bidder  to  state  lowest  guar- 
anteed horse  power  required  in  each  arc  and  to  drive  each  machine. 
Lamp  magnets  and  dynamo  armatures  must  be  guaranteed  against  burn- 
ing out  from  short  circuiting  of  the  current  for  two  years.  Dynamos 
shall  admit  of  being  coupled  together  to  operate  any  multiple  of  their 
capacity. 

LAMPS. — One  thousand  double  carbon,  standard  2,000  candle  power 
arc  lamps,  each  lamp  to  have  automatic  cut-out,  and  hand  switch,  with 
lifting  and  sustaining  magnets  of  sufficient  strength  to  enable  the  use  of 
carbons  one  half  inch  in  diameter  if  desired ;  said  lamps  shall  be  thor- 
oughly insulated  and  protected  from  the  weather  by  hoods  or  other 
devices;  bidder  to  state  the  nature  of  such  devices.  Bidder  must  state 
the  number  of  amperes  of  dynamo  running  under  normal  condition, 
also  the  voltage  per  lamp. 

LINE  WIRE. — (State  number)  miles  of  No.  4,  5  or  6  B.  &  S.  Gauge 
copper  line  wire,  water,  weather,  and  fire  proof  insulation,  said  wire  to 
be  subject  to  test  of  twelve  hours  under  water,  after  which  it  must  show 
(state)  resistance,  and  shall  be  tested  from  reel  supplied  for  work.  Said 


HOW    TO    HUY    A    PLAXT.  85 

wire  shall  not  be  less  than  ninety-eight  per  cent,  pure  copper.  Every 
joint  to  be  soldered  and  wrapped  with  tape. 

POLES. — Four  thousand  forty-five  foot  cedar  poles,  not  less  than  six 
inches  in  diameter  at  the  tip.  Said  poles  shall  be  set  six  feet  in  the 
ground  and  covered  with  preservative,  and  the  part  above  ground 
trimmed  and  painted  with  two  coats  of  paint. 

CROSS  ARMS. — Six  thousand  four-pin  cross  arms,  four  and  one  half 
by  five  and  one  half  inches  by  four  feet  in  length,  free  from  knots  and 
cracks,  and  painted  with  two  coats  of  paint. 

INSULATORS. — Twenty-four  thousand  deep  grove  electric  light  insu- 
lators. 

PINS. — Twenty- four  thousand  one  and  one  half  inch  standard  locust 
or  oak  pins,  painted  with  two  coats  of  paint,  also  end  protectors  for 
arm  of  one  inch  strap  iron,  one  quarter  inch  thick  to  prevent  end  wire 
drooping  into  street  In  crossing. 

BELTING.— Belting  to  be  leather  and  endless. 

If  the  lights  are  to  be  placed  upon  poles,  insert  the  following: 

POLES. — One  thousand  thirty-feet  iron  (or  wood)  ornamental  poles 
with  steps. 

Or,  if  over  street  intersections,  insert  this: 

INTERSECTIONS. — One  thousand  mast  arms,  arches  or  other  devices 
(state  which),  capable  of  holding  the  lamps  forty  feet  high  at  street 
intersections. 

If  towers  are  desired,  insert  this* 

TOWERS. — One  hundred  standard  one  hundred  and  fifty  foot  electric 
light  towers,  description  to  be  stated,  with  supports  for  six  lights  each ; 
one  hundred  standard  one  hundred  and  fifty  foot  electric  light  towers, 
with  supports  for  four  lights  each. 

PLANT  COMPLETE. — The  bidder  to  bid  on  furnishing  the  above  plant 
complete  in  every  particular,  furnisk  all  labor,  including  superintend- 
ence, and  construct  and  build  the  circuits,  etc.,  and  turn  over  to  the 
city  ready  for  duty.  Bids  to  be  in  detail,  stating  name  and  kind  of 
each  article  and  price. 

MAINTENANCE. — Bidder  to  accompany  bid  with  a  schedule  showing 
the  number  and  approximate  salary  of  labor  required  and  other  cost  of 
maintaining  the  complete  plant  per  year,  each  item  to  be  carried  out  in 
detail.  The  cost  of  steam  and  electrical  plants  to  be  kept  separate  where 
bidder  is  estimating  on  entire  specifications. 

Where  the  wires  are  to  be  placed  underground,  the  specifi- 
cations should  provide  that: 

The  cables  shall  have  a  carrying  capacity  equal  to  No.  4,  5  or  6  B.  & 
S.  Gauge  wire,  bidder  to  give  price  on  each.  Said  wire  shall  be  thor- 
oughly insulated  and  character  stated.  The  cables  shall  have  an  insula- 
tion resistance  of  not  less  than  ten  megohms  per  mile  when  laid  in  the 
ground.  The  contractor  must  estimate  on  digging  all  trenches,  furnishing 
all  appliances,  stating  their  nature,  removing  and  repairing  paving,  and 
laying  cables  ready  for  use,  guaranteeing  them  for  at  least  two  years. 

*It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  if  towers  are  used  the  number  of  lights  necessary 
will  not  be  so  large  as  by  the  pole  or  intersection  systems.* 


86  HOW   TO    BUY    A   PLANT. 


INCANDESCENT   STREET   LIGHTING. 

DYNAMOS. — Dynamos  capable  of  generating  current  for  not  less  than 
four  thousand  incandescent  lamps  of  fifty  candle  power  each.  The 
dynamos  to  set  upon  insulated  bases  and  provided  with  belt  tighteners. 
The  dynamos  will  be  capable  of  generating  the  current  as  stated  for  a 
period  of  at  least  twelve  hours  continuous  running  daily,  without  excessive 
or  abnormal  heating  or  sparking  at  the  commutator  brushes,  or  unduly 
heating  the  journals.  The  dynamos  will  be  practically  automatic  in  thefr 
action,  so  as  to  permit  any  number  of  lights  to  be  turned  on  or  off  at  will 
without  affecting  the  others  in  use.  The  bidder  will  state  class  to  which 
his  dynamos  belong.  Also  give  electrical  data  of  same. 

ELECTRICAL  APPLIANCES. — Furnish  necessary  rheostats  for  setting 
the  candle  power  of  the  lamps;  same  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  to  perm  it 
of  the  full  range  of  the  dynamos,  from  the  burning  of  the  lamps  only  a 
dull  red,  to  show  that  current  is  being  generated,  to  the  full  rated  candle 
power  of  lamps,  and  to  control  the  E.  M.  F.  of  dynamos  without  unduly 
heating.  The  rheostats  to  be  properly  connected  to  the  fields  of  the 
dynamos  by  best  insulated  wire;  necessary  volt  meters,  to  put  in  the 
lamp  circuit,  and  remain  continuously  in  such  circuit,  to  indicate  clearly 
at  all  times  electrical  pressure  at  which  lamps  are  being  operated;  neces- 
sary ampere  meters  to  be  also  put  into  the  circuit  to  correctly  indicate 
the  number  of  lamps  in  operation,  and  to  denote  any  changes  in  the  num- 
ber of  lamps  burning;  necessary  lightning  arresters  to  be  connected  into 
the  lamp  circuit,  same  to  be  provided  with  proper  ground  connections; 
necessary  main  machine  switches  to  enable  the  operator  in  the  dynamo 
room  to  disconnect  the  lamp  circuits  at  any  time  from  the  dynamos; 
furnish  all  other  appliances  constituting  part  of  the  system  of  the  bidder, 
stating  what  they  are.  All  of  the  above  to  be  erected  and  properly 
connected  in  the"  dynamo  room,  and  made  ready  to  be  attached  to  the 
power. 

POLES,  CROSS  ARMS  AND  INSULATORS. — The  bidder  will  furnish  all 
poles,  provided  with  cross  arms,  pins  and  insulators,  erected  ready  for 
the  mains  to  be  but  upon.  And  the  bidder  will  put  up  wires  hereinafter 
mentioned  on  the  poles,  furnishing  all  labor  and  material  of  the  best 
quality  to  properly  comply  with  the  requirements. 

WIRING. — Furnish  a  complete  system  as  follows:  Mains  from  station 
of  sufficient  conductivity  to  operate  four  thousand  lamps  of  fifty  candle 
power  distributed  over  (state  number)  square  miles.  The  whole  to  be  done 
so  that  the  loss  in  electrical  pressure  shall  not  exceed  five  per  cent,  between 
the  dynamos  and  the  lamps,  when  the  full  number  of  lamps  are  burning. 
The  bidder  to  furnish  a  standard  volt  meter  of  well  known  make.  All 
wires  on  poles  to  be  well  insulated,  water,  weather  and  fire  proof. 

DETAIL  WIRING,  ETC. — The  bidder  will  furnish  wire  (state  kind)  and 
all  line  material  and  labor  to  properly  wire  to  the  street  lamps  designated 
by  purchaser,  and  do  such  wiring  in  neat  and  substantial  manner. 

LAMPS,  SOCKETS,  ETC. — Furnish  four  thousand  fifty  candle  power 
lamps,  or  equivalent  in  lamps  of  other  candle  powers,  and  four  thousand 
sockets  for  same.  Furnish  four  thousand  street  lamp  reflectors  with 
brackets  of  neat  and  suitable  design,  said  brackets  to  be  attached  to  wire 
poles  at  height  of  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  bidder  will  state  at 
what  price  he  will  furnish  fifty  candle  power  lamps  or  equivalent  for 
renewals. 

LABOR. — Furnish  all  labor,  including  superintendence,  connected  with 
the  erection  of  the  plant. 

POWER. — The  plant  when  finished  to  be  driven  by  power  to  be  fur- 
nished by  the  bidder  as  per  these  specifications. 

BELTING. — Belting  to  be  leather  and  endless. 

MISCELLANEOUS. — The  bidder  will  guarantee  the  plant  to  work  pro- 


HOW    TO   BUY    A    PLANT.  87 

perly  and  that  the  lamp*  will  hum  steady^and  will  not  blacken  inside, 
and  will  guarantee  the  avi-rage  life  of  lamp  Atao  state  the  number  of 
volts  E.  M.  F.  required  to  properly  operate,  the  lamps.  Als:>  how  many 
lamps  per  mechanical  nurse  power  at  the  dynamo  the  system  will 
produce. 

MAINTENANCE. — Bidder  to  acco  npauy  estimate  with  a  schedule  show- 
ing the  number  aad  approxim:it •;  salary  of  labor  required  aud  other  cost 
of  maintaining  the  complete  plant  per  year,  each  item  to  be  carried  out 
in  detail.  The  cost  of  steam  and  electrical  plants  to  be  kept  separate 
where  bidder  is  estimating  on  entire  specifications. 

Purchasers  of  incandescent  plants  for  street  lighting  purposes 
should  bear  in  mind  the  following  points  in  making  up  their 
specifications: 

SPECIFICATIONS. — For  nn  electric  municipal  lighting  system  for  large 
and  small  cities  and  villages.  Plants  from  150  to  10,000  incandescent 
light*  varying  from  20  candle  power  to  100  caudle  power. 

^PROPER  AMOUNT  OF  ILLUMINATION. —To  be  not  less  than  the  present  gas- 
illumination,  uniformly  distributed  so  as  to  light  the  crossing  and  the  mid- 
dle of  the  block  with  equal  brilliancy,  also  the  alleys,  and  to  give  an  equal 
and  uniform  illumination  on  the  side-walk  below  shade  trees.  The  cen- 
tral portion  of  the  city  to  have  lamps  of  30,  45,  60,  or  100  candle  power,  as 
the  authorities  may  decide.  The  alleys  and  the  outskirts  may  be  illumin- 
ated by  30,  20  or  less  candle  power  as  may  be  designated.  The  size  and 
the  caudle  power  of  the  lamps  may  be  based  on  the  amount  of  taxation 
or  the  value  of  the  property. 

ELECTRIC  PL^NT. — The  size  of  the  dynamos  for  this  purpose  may  vary 
according  to  the  size  of  the  city,  from  150  to  600  thirty-caudle-power  each 
or  its  equivalent  in  any  other  suitable  candle  power.  None  of  the  above 
sizes  of  dynamos  to  produce  more  than  two  distinct  circuits.  Each  of 
those  circuits  must  be  absolutely  independent  of  each  other,  and  perfectly 
automatic  to  adjust  for  any  load  or  any  number  of  lamps  on  each  circuit 
and  to  lower  the  horse  power  of  the  engine  in  proportion.  The  current 
generated  by  either  of  the  dynamos  not  to  be  greater  in  amperage  than 
to  require  a  heavier  wire  than  Nos.  9  or  8  (American  Gauge).  The  loss 
of  current  in  overcoming  the  line  wire  resistance  must  not  exceed  one 
30  candle  power  lamp  per  mile.  All  the  metallic  parts  of  the  machines, 
brushes  and  regulation  to  be  so  arranged  and  have  only  such  currents  of 
such  low  potential  that  both  brushes  can  be  handled  tree  of  all  danger. 
The  automatic  regulation  must  be  so  arranged  that  one  circuit  of  the 
dynanfo  may  be  short  circuited  at  the  station  while  the  other  may  do  the- 
lighting  0:1  the  street.  Each  circuit  must  be  so  arranged  that  it  can 
instantly  be  connected  to  any  other  machine.  The  dynamo  speed  must 
not  exceed  8oO  revolutions  per  minute.  They  must  be  guaranteed  to  pro- 
duce not  less  than  seven  30  candle  power  to  the  horse  power  or  its- 
equivalent  in  any  other  candle  power.  The  switchboard  must  be  pro- 
vided with  an  automatic  device,  which,  in  case  a  line  or  circuit  should 
break  and  fall  on  the  street  or  on  a  tree,  will  immediately  release  and  dis- 
connect said  line  from  the  dynamo  and  thereby  empty  the  wire  of  its  cur- 
rent. A  suitable  .switch  and  apparatus  must  be  provided  for  so  that  the 
total  power  or  capacity  of  the  dynamo  can  be  exerted  within  the  station 
for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  engine  under  its  full  load. 

POLES  AND  LINK  WIKES. — The  poles  to  be  from  25  to  35  feet  and  from 
fiv»-  to  six  inches  in  diameter  on  the  top.  The  same  to  be  properly 
trimmed,  stepped  and  painted,  put  not  less  than  four  or  nve  feet  in  the 
ground  and  guye  1  if  necessary.  Suitable  cross  arms  to  be  provided  to- 
carry  the  various  lines.  The  line  wire  to  be  weatherproof  of  the  best 


88  HOW    TO    BUY    A    PLANT. 

kind  with  two  or  three  braids  thoroughly  saturated  with  weatherproof 
compound,  No.  8  or  9  American  gauge  hard  drawn  copper  wire.  Porce- 
lain loop  knobs  to  be  used  for  the  loops  down  to  the  street  lamps,  the 
very  best  rubber  wire  in  the  market  used  for  entering  the  street  fixtures. 

WIRE  SYSTEM. — The  system  to  be  strictly  series  so  as  only  to  require 
one  single  wire  on  the  street  from  which-a  direct  loop  is  made  to  the  fix- 
ture which  holds  the  lamp.  Purchaser  must  be  enabled  to  insert  any 
candle  power  of  lamps  anywhere  on  said  lines  without  requiring  any  ad- 
ditional wire  or  alteration  of  the  same. 

THE  LAMP  HOLDER. — Must  include  the  automatic  short  circuiter  for 
which  absolute  guarantee  must  be  given  of  its  closing  the  circuits  un- 
der any  and  all  possible  conditions  as  follows:  When  the  lamps  naturally 
burn  out;  when  the  lamps  are  pulled  out  by  hand  or  otherwise  removed, 
or  when  the  glass  is  broken;  when  the  filament  breaks  during  the  day 
while  there  is  no  current  on  the  lines.  For  large  cities,  to  insure  contin- 
uous lighting,  each  fixture  or  post  should  have  a  double  holder  with  two 
lamps,  one  to  be  the  reserve  for  the  other.  The  same  must  be  so  arranged 
that  the  continuance  of  the  electric  current  over  the  line  is  absolutely 
assured,  no  matter  which  lamp  or  filament  or  globe  is  broken  or  removed, 
and  under  what  condition  the  breakage  takes  place,  the  current  being  on 
or  off.  Even  if  the  second  lamp  should  not  be  in  place  and  the  first  one 
should  break,  the  short  circuit  must  be  assured.  No  fuse  or  any  other 
contrivance  can  be  admitted  that  needs  replacing  after  the  burning  out 
of  the  lamp. 

THE  STREET  BRACKET  HOOD. — The  same  must  be  a  substantial  struct- 
ure so  as  to  last  under  proper  care  and  with  proper  paint  at  least  fifty 
years.  It  must  have  the  highest  insulation  possible  so  as  to  guarantee 
under  any  kind  of  weather  or  storms  uniform  lighting  throughout  the 
lines,  no  "matter  how  long  they  may  be.  The  pole  must  be  made  to  carry 
the  wires  and  the  street  lamp  fixture  at  the  same  time. 

THE  LAMPS  — The  lamps  must  be  guaranteed  to  last  not  less  than  600 
hours  on  the  average.  They  must  be  guaranteed  not  to  blacken  on  the 
inside,  but  to  stay  perfectly  clear  until  burned  out.  They  must  be 
guaranteed  to  maintain  their  rated  candle  power  with  the  original  stan- 
dard of  current  until  the  end  of  their  life. 

Specifications  for  isolated  indoor  incandescent  lighting  are 
scarcely  necessary  in  this  volume,  but  as  a  sample  of  what 
ought  to  be  required  the  following  is  appended.  The  plant  is 
supposed  to  be  of  250  light  capacity  of  sixteen  candle  power 
lamps. 

DYNAMOS. — One  dynamo  capable  of  generating  current  for  250  incan- 
descent lamps  of  sixteen  candle  power  each.  The  dynamos  to  set  upon 
insulated  bases  and  provided  with  belt  tighteners  and  to  be  capable  of 
generating  the  current  as  stated,  for  a  period  of  at  least  twelve  hours  con- 
tinuous running  daily,  without  excessive  or  abnormal  heating  or  spark- 
ing at  the  commutator  brushes,  or  unduly  heating  the  journals.  The 
dynamos  will  be  practically  automatic  and  capable  of  permitting  any  num- 
ber of  lights  to  be  turned  on  or  off  at  will  without  affecting  the  others  in 
use. 

LAMPS. — Two  hundred  and  fifty  lamps  of  sixteen  candle  power.  Bid- 
der to  state  price  of  lamps  for  renewals 

SOCKETS. — Two  hundred  and  fifty  sockets  for  lamps. 

ELECTRICAL  APPLIANCES. — Necessary  rheostats  for  setting  the  candle 
power  of  the  lamps;  same  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  to  control  the  E. 
M.  F.  of  dynamos  without  unduly  heating.  The  rheostats  to  be  con- 


HOW   TCT  BUY    A    PLANT. 

nected  with  dynamos  with  good  insulated  copper  wire;  necessary  balanc- 
ing rheostats  for  enabling  dynamos  to  be  operated  in  parallel  (multiple 
arc);  necessary  potential  indicators  to  put  in  the  lamp  circuit  and  remain 
continually  in  such  circuit,  to  indicate  clearly  at  all  times  efectrical  press- 
ure at  which  lamps  are  being  operated;  necessary  ampere  meters  to  be 
al-o  put  into  the  circuit  to  correctly  indicate  the  number  of  lamps  in 
operation,  and  to  denote  any  changes  in  the  number  of  lamps  burning; 
necessary  ground  detectors  to  show  instantly  the  location  of  any  ground 
on  the  circuit;  necessary  switches  and  switch  boards.  All  to  be  erected 
and  properly  connected'and  made  ready  to  be  attached  to  the  power  pro- 
vided for. 

WIRING. — Furnish  a  complete  system  from  the  dynamo  to  the  main 
switch  or  switch  board  (as  the  case' may  be),  and  from  the  main  switch  (or 
switch  board)  to  the  point  of  distribution,  the  mains  to  have  sufficient  con- 
ductivity to  operate  250  lamps  of  sixteen  candle  power.  The  wiring  to 
be  calculated  and  put  up  so  that  the  loss  in  electrical  pressure  shall  not 
exceed  five  per  cent,  between  the  dynamos  and  the  lamps,  when  the  full 
number  of  lamps  are  burning.  The  mains  to  be  of  best  quality  of  copper, 
98  per  cent,  conductivity,  and  of  the  best  insulation.  Mains  to  be  put 
up  in  good  and  substantial  manner,  and  have  double  pole  safety  devices 
inserted  where  leaving  the  main  switch  (or  switch  board). 

BRANCH  WIRING. — All  branches  from  mains  will  be  attached  thereto  by 
means  of  good  soldered  joints,  and  such  joints  will  be  thoroughly  pro- 
tected by  insulating  with  some  standard  compound.  Double  pole  'safety 
device  will  be  inserted  at  convenient  points  near  the  attachment  to  mains. 
The  branch  wires  to  be  of  best  quality  copper.  The  branches  to  be  so 
calculated  and  put  up  that  not  to  exceed  five  per  cent,  shall  be  lost  in 
overcoming  the  resistance  from  the  mains.  The  entire  loss  of  current  in 
mains  and  branches  will  not  exceed  five  per  cent. 

LAMP  ATTACHMENTS. — Furnish  suitable  ceiling  rosettes  and  affix  same 
to  the  ceiling  where  lamps  are  to  be  suspended,  and  suspend  the  lamps 
from  such  rosettes  by  means  of  insulated  flexible  copper  cord,  and  properly 
attach  lamps  thereto  at  such  height  from  the  floor  as  will  be  required,  or 
attach  lamps  to  such  fixtures  as  may  be  provided  by  the  purchaser. 

LABOR  — Furnish  all  necessary  labor  to  fulty  erect  the  plant  complete. 

MISCELLANKOUS. — The  bidder  will  guarantee  the  plant  to  work  properly 
and  that  the  lamps  will  burn  steady  and  not  blacken. 

MAINTKNANCE. — Bidder  to  accompany  estimate  with  a  schedule  show- 
ing the  number  and  approximate  salary  of  labor  required,  to  run  this 
plant ;  also  the  cost  of  maintaining  this'plant  per  year,  each  item  to  be 
carried  out  in  detail. 

In  dealing  with  the  electrical  engineers  the  purchaser  will 
run  against  some  mysteriously  technical  words,  a  great  many 
of  which  it  is  not  necessary  for  him  to  become  familiar  with. 
A  few,  however,  would  do  him  no  harm  to  know.  The  simple 
ones  are  these: 

The  Ampere  is  the  unit  of  the  strength  or  volume  of  the 
current. 

The  Volt  is  the  unit  of  the  electro  motive  force  or  pressure 
urging  the  current  along. 

The  Ohm  is  the  unit  of  resistance  opposed  to  the  flow  of  the 
current. 


90  HOW    TO    BUY    A    PLANT. 

The  Watt  is  the  unit  of  power,  746  watts  equal  one  horse- 
power. 

One  Volt  Avill  force  one  ampere  of  current  through  one  ohm1 
of  resistance.  Its  value  i  s  purely  arbitrary,  but  fixed. 

The  value  of  an  ampere  may  be  defined  as  that  quantity  of 
electricity  which  flows  per  second  through  one  ohm  of  resist- 
ance when  impelled  by  one  volt  of  electro  motive  force. 

The  higher  the  resistance  opposing  a  current,  the  more  press- 
ure is  required  to  force  the  current  through. 

The  various  devices  which  make  electric  lighting  machinery 
practical,  convenient,  and  economical  in  operation  are  these: 
Current  Indicators  show  the  number  of  lamps  in  use;  "  Volt" 
or  Pressure  Indicators,  show  the  pressure  or  u  electro-motive 
force"  of  the  current.  Switch  Boards  are  for  throwing 
dynamos  in  and  out  of  circuit.  Gang  Switches  are  for  control- 
ling groups  of  lights;  Automatic  Regulators,  compensate  for 
slight  changes  of  speed;  Safety  Devices,  or  " Fusible  Plugs" 
to  cut  lamps  out  of  circuit,  should  there,  for  any  reason,  be  an 
abnormal  pressure  on  the  circuit;  Wall  Plates,  Portable  Plugs, 
Hand  Rheostats,  Swinging  Bracket  Joints,  Shades,  Shade 
Holders  are  other  special  fixtures  which  render  lighting  con- 
venient and  satisfactory. 

There  is  one  aspect  for  city  councils  to  regard  the  prob- 
lem of  electric  lighting,  should  they  undertake  to  construct 
their  own  plant.  It  may  be  considered  as  practically  certain 
that,  whatever  be  the  system  put  in,  patent  litigation  will 
be  likely  to  follow.  This  opinion  is  based  upon  the  fact  that 
while  all  systems  for  conveying  electricity  are  comparatively 
new,  there  has  yet  been  a  very  considerable  number  of  patents 
granted  thereon,  covering  a  wide  range  of  plans,  processes,  and 
manufacturing  appliances.  Nevertheless,  "the  state  of  the  art," 
and  the  validity  of  what  may  be  regarded  as  generic  patents, 
have  not  yet  been  decisively  defined  by  the  courts.  Attempts 
have  been  made  to  act  upon  this  subject,  and,  to  be  properly 
passed  upon,  it  has  required  an  extended  and  painstaking 
search,  involving  considerable  expense,  but  at  best  the  result 
thereof  is  but  an  opinion,  with  which  the  courts  after  all  do 
not  agree,  and  yet  this  is  a  feature  of  great  importance  which 
may  not  be  disregarded. 


GconomLj 


*HE  rapid  progress  of  electric  lighting,  as  a  busi- 
ness, has  given  a  new  interest  to  every  force,  and  to 
every  mechanical  appliance  or  device,  which  bears 
any  relation  to  the  economical  and  effective  installa- 
tion and  operation  of  electric  light  plants,  whether 
by  municipal  authorities,  private  corporations,  or  individuals. 

The  use  of  steam  occupies  so  important  a  relation  to  the 
production  of  electric  light;  and  the  appliances  for  the  genera- 
tion and  application  of  its  forces  form  so  important  a  part  of 
an  electric  light  plant,  and  enter  so  largely  into  the  question  of 
its  economical  operation,  that  no  discussion  of  the  subject  of 
electric  lighting  would  be  complete  without  a  consideration  of 
the  best  methods  and  appliances,  and  of  the  latest  improve- 
ments for  the  most  economical  generation  and  the  most  advan- 
tageous use  of  steam. 

Any  device  which  will  economise  the  production  of  steam, 
or  increase  the  profitable  uses  to  which  it  can  be  applied,  when 
once  generated;  or  which,  in  other  words,  will  insure  the  larg- 
est economical  results  from  a  given  quantity  or  value  of  fuel 
consumed,  should  receive  the  closest  attention  from  those  en- 
gaged in  the  production  and  distribution  of  electric  light. 

No  more  important  question  can  claim  their  attention,  than 
that  of  making  the  most  profitable  use  of  their  exhaust  steam, 
after  it  leaves  the  engines  or  pumps,  or  of  converting  it  into 
a  source  of  revenue. 

Electric  light  plants  in  cities  and  villages,  or  in  large  indus- 
trial establishments,  are  usually  centrally  located,  and  surround- 
ed by  neighboring  buildings,  in  which,  in  northern  climates, 
heat  is  required  for  the  larger  half  of  the  year;  and,  in  many 
cases,  all  the  year  round,  for  certain  industrial  purposes,  such 
as  drying,  boiling,  dyeing,  bleaching,  etc. 


92  ECONOMY    IN   STEAM. 

Exhaust  steam,  in  its  normal  condition,  as  it  comes  from  the 
cylinder  of  an  engine,  at  a  temperature  of  about  212  degrees, 
is  not,  owing  to  its  moist  and  sluggish  condition,  an  efficient 
or  satisfactory  agent,  for  even  the  simplest  and  most  ordinary 
requirements  for  heating;  while  for  any  process  requiring  a 
temperature  of  over  212  degrees,  it  is  useless.  By  raising  its 
temperature  and  evaporating  its  moisture,  it  may  be  made  to  do 
as  valuable  a"nd  efficient  service  in  heating  as  live  steam  direct 
from  the  boiler  at  high  pressure. 

In  this  connection  attention  is  called  to  a  system  of  re-heat- 
ing exhaust  steam,  and  superheating  live  steam,  without  cost 
for  fuel,  by  the  utilization  of  the  waste  gases  of  combustion  in 
their  passage  from  the  furnace  to  the  chimney.  By  this  device 
the  temperature  of  the  steam  passing  through  it  is  raised  to 
within  50  degress  of  the  temperature  of  the  flue  in  which  it  is 
placed,  which, 'under  ordinary  conditions,  varies  from  400  de- 
grees to  600  degrees  Fahrenheit.  At  the  same  time  the  moist- 
ure carried  along  in  the  steam  is  thoroughly  evaporated,  and 
the  steam  is  thus  rendered  dry  and  elastic. 

By  this  process  the  temperature  of  exhaust  steam  can  be 
raised  to  from  350  to  500  degrees,  and  circulated  through  a 
properly  arranged  piping  system,  without  any  appreciable  back 
pressure  on  the  engine. 

It  will  readily  be  seen,  that  by  the  use  of  this  system,  the 
exhaust  steam  from  the  engines  of  electric  light  plants,  which 
is  in  many  instances  exhausted  into  the  atmosphere  and  lost, 
can  be  made  an  important  source  of  revenue  in  heating  sur- 
rounding buildings  in  winter,  and  in  supplying  high  tempera- 
tures at  nominal  pressure,  when  required,  to  neighboring 
manufacturing  establishments. 

The  same  device  is  also  applied  to  super-heating  live  steam; 
raising  its  temperature  to  any  desired  extent  without  increasing 
t]pe  pressure  at  which  it  may  be  convenient  to  deliver  it  from 
the  boiler,  and  thoroughly  evaporating  its  moisture,  and  rend- 
ering it  dryer  than  it  is  possible  to  produce  steam  in  the  boiler 
in  contact  with  water,  and  capable  of  doing  more  effective  work 
in  the  engine,  with  less  cylinder  condensation,  than  ordinary 
saturated  steam. 

In  the  application  of  this  system  to  steam  plants,  it  is  so 
arranged,  by  means  of  the  proper  connections  and  valves,  that 


ECONOMY    IN    STEAM.  93 

either  live  steam  from  the  boiler,  or  exhaust  steam  from  the 
engine  or  pumps,  or  both  together,  can  be  passed  through  the 
apparatus  at  will.  In  this  way,  when  heat  is  required  while 
the  engine  or  pumps  are  not  .running,  live  steam  at  low  pressure 
can  be  heated  up  to  the  temperature  due  to  high  pressure,  and 
used  for  the  heating  requirements  until  exhaust  steam  is  again 
supplied.  Also,  if  at  times  there  is  not  sufficient  exhaust  steam 
to  meet  the  requirements  for  heating,  it  can  be  utilized  for  the 
purpose  as  far  as  it  will  go,  and  live  steam  can  be  supplied 
from  the  boiler  to  the  re-heater,  in  combination  with  the  ex- 
haust to  make  up  the  deficiency. 

By  the  application  of  this  system  to  municipal  electric  light 
plants,  the  exhaust  steam  from  the  engines  employed  for  run- 
ning the  dynamos,  can  be  utilized  for  heating  the  public  build- 
ings, and  save  the  fuel  that  would  otherwise  be  consumed  in 
generating  separate  steam  for  that  purpose. 

Another  important  feature  of  municipal  legislation  of  late 
years  has  been  the  proper  disposition  of  the  city  garbage.  It 
has  been  decided  by  the  best  informed  sanitary  engineers  that 
cremation  affords  the  readiest  and  most  healthful  means  for 
disposing  of  this  necessary  surplus.  In  accordance  with  this 
idea  various  garbage  burning  furnaces  of  different  designs 
have  been  invented  and  are  now  in  successful  operation  in 
Montreal,  Pittsburg,  Des  Moines  and  Chicago.  Other  cities 
are  putting  them  in. 

The  connection  these  furnaces  have  with  electric  lighting  is 
this:  In  putting  in  furnaces  in  a  prospective  plant,  the  city 
might  profitably  put  in  enough  garbage  burning  furnaces  to 
dispose  of  all  the  garbage,  and  thus  utilize  the  heat  under  the 
boilers  that  would  be  wasted  if  the  garbage  cremation  was  car- 
ried on  in  a  separate  station.  Private  electric  light  companies 
might  also  profitably  take  care  of  the  city  garbage  by  contract 
and  make  a  saving  on  their  fuel  bills. 


mporfance  oj? 


'HEN  the  electric  light  first  came  into  use,  electricians 
found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  get  a  belt  suitable  to 
use  on  dynamos.  All  belts  that  were  tried  seemed 
to  lack  something,  and  even  the  heaviest  and  most 

carefully  made  leather  belts  failed  to  do  the  required  work. 

This  problem  received  special  attention  by  some  of  our  most 

enterprising  belt  makers,  and  various  methods  were  introduced 

for  making  belts  specially  adapted  for  use  on  dynamos.    About 

five  years  ago  experiments  were  made  and  a  belt  was  produced 

particularly  fitted  for  transmitting  power  when  run  at  a  high 

rate  of  speed. 

The  most  important  operation  in  the  manufacture  of  dynamo 

belting,  is  the  stretching. 

The  steer  hide  is  by  na- 
ture   peculiarly    formed, 

having   fine  and   solid 

fibres   on  the  back,   and 

rounding  off  towards  the 

belly    with    loose    and 

coarse  fibres;    therefore, 

to    get    a   perfectly   flat 

piece  of  leather  of  even 

tension,    and    from    the 

center    of    the    hide,    it 

needs    the    utmost    care. 

The   side   pieces   of    the 

center  are  generally  put 

into  the  stretching  strain, 

leaving  a  short  piece  free, 

and    thereby    stretching 

the  whole  piece  on  an   equal   strain;    or,  to  explain  it  more 

fully,  if  you  wish  to    stretch  a  24-inch   piece  of  leather,  you 


V 


A  STEER  HIDE. 


IMPORTANCE    OF    BELTING.  95 

place  your  clamps  eight  inches  on  each  side  and  leave  the  cen- 
tre eight  inches  clear;  this  will  draw  up  enough  under  the 
strain  of  the  side  pieces  to  be  perfectly  even;  or  rather,  the  side 
pieces  which  contain  more  stretch,  will  draw  up  even  with  the 
centre.  A  dressing  or  extra  coating  for  the  leather  was  pre- 
pared, which  made  it  very  pliable  and  also  very  smooth,  by 
filling  its  pores. 

The  lines  drawn  inside  of  the  whole  hide,  show  the  heart  or 
the  most  solid  parts  of  the  pure  oak-tanned  leather,  which 
only  can  be  used  for  making  a  good  leather  belt.  The  bellies 
and  shoulders  are  finished  and  sold  for  shoe  purposes. 

Another  important  improvement  for  dynamo  belts,  was  mak- 
ing them  light  double,  and  perfectly  even,  so  that  every  square 
inch  of  the  whole  belt  was  of  even  weight  and  tension  through- 
out. This  caused  the  belt  to  run  without  vibrating  like  ordinary 
belts,  to  run  more  steady  and  give  the  uniformity  of  power  so 
necessary  for  producing  electric  light.  Nor  did  the  belt  con- 


tain  copper  rivets  an-1  burrs  or  other  obstructions,  but  simply 
small,  endless,  wire  screws.  Its  tensile  strength  was  also 
greatly  increased  by  fastening  the  edges  of  the  belt  with  these 
wire  screws,  which  held  the  leather  firmly  together,  and  yet 
offered  no  obstruction  to  the  smooth  surface  of  the  belt.  These 
belts  met  with  great  success,  and  were  so  well  calculated  to  use 
on  dynamos,  that  they  were  named  "  Electric." 

Another  belt  which  has  lately  become  very  popular,  is  leather 
link  belting.  It  was  first  introduced  into  this  country  some 
two  years  ago.  Since  that  time  so  many  improvements  have 
been  made  in  this  line  of  belting,  that  leather  link  belts  can 
now  be  used  on  any  kind  of  machinery.  They  are  made  in 
the  following  manner:  Small  pieces  of  solid  selected  leather 
are  dressed  with  tallow  and  neat's  foot  oil,  which  acts  as  a 
lubricator  to  the  joints  of  the  pins.  The  leather  is  then  put 


96 


IMPORTANCE    OF    BELTING. 


through  rollers,  and  made  very  solid;  it  is  then  cut  into  small 
links;  this  process  makes  a  link  of  re- 
markable tenacity  and  strength,  and  one 
which  will  stand  more  strain  than  a  piece 
of  hard  rolled  sole  leather.  The  links  are 
then  carefully  assorted  as  to  thickness,  and 
the  belt  built  up  to  the  required  width.  It 
is  of  great  importance  that  each  belt  be 
made  up  of  accurately  assorted  links,  in 
order  that  an  even  width  and  perfect  run- 
ning belt  may  be  secured.  A  patent  has 
been  granted  for  this  process,  dated  Jan- 
uary 31st,  1888. 

The  Patent  Joint  is  a  great  improve- 
ment in  this  line  of  belting.  In  this  patent 
two  bolts  are  used  to  each  width  of  belt,  and  the  two  widths 
ingeniously  joined  together  so  as  to  form  an  unbroken  surface. 
This  makes  a  belt  which  will  conform  itself  to  any  pulley, 
whether  flat,  rounded,  or  cone.  Other  patents  have  been 
granted  for  this  style  of  belt,  but  they  are  of  minor  import- 
ance. Link  belts  should  be  run  as  loosely  as  possible  and 


PATENT  JOINT  BELT. 


IMPORTANCE    OE    BELTING.  97 

should  not  be  taken  up  unless  they  actually  slip.  An  inexper- 
ienced person  upon  seeing  one  of  these  link  belts  running  on  a 
dynamo,  would  naturally  think  that  the  belt  was  loose  and 
needed  tightening,  but  these  belts  have  such  a  remarkable  grip 
power,  that  though  when  running  the  upper  side  of  the  belt 
is  so  loose  that  it  almost  describes  a  semi-circle,  the  under  side 
is  as  tight  as  possible. 

Before  starting  new  belting  examine  your  shafting  and  pul- 
leys and  be  sure  that  they  are  true  and  in  line.  All  pulleys 
should  be  crowning  in  the  centre,  except  those  used  for  shifting 
belts.  Have  your  pulleys  as  large  in  diameter  as  possible,  also 
for  your  guide  pulleys.  Get  your  belts  an  inch  wider  than 
necessary;  it  will  prove  a  very  profitable  investment.  An  over- 
worked and  overstrained  belt  is  the  most  expensive  article;  it 
causes  much  trouble  and  delay.  An  easy  running  belt  keeps 
the  machinery  in  constant  motion.  Keep  your  belts  clean;  they 
will  last  much  longer. 


to  feigftt  a  (sify. 


[j?ESSE  M.  SMITH,   of  Detroit,  Mich.,  an   electrical 


0 
engineer  of  large  experience,  furnishes  the  writer 


if 

Sfciis)     witn  fc^e  appended  ideas  upon  municipal  lighting: 

The  system  for  electric  lighting  best  adapted  for 
a  city,  town  or  village  must  be  determined  from  the 
circumstances  of  the  case.  It  is  evident  that  what  would  be 
suited  for  a  city  would  be  entirely  out  of  the  question  in  a  vil- 
lage, and  even  cities  with  the  same  number  of  inhabitants  re- 
quire oftentimes  very  different  systems.  A  city  with  narrow 
streets,  compactly  built  up,  calls  for  a  different  system  of 
lighting  from  one  with  broad  streets,  bordered  with  trees  and 
covering  a  large  area. 

Electric  municipal  lighting  may  be  divided  into  three  sys- 
tems: 

1st.  Arc  lights  on  high  towers. 

2d.  Arc  lights  on  low  supports. 

3d.  Incandescent  lights. 

There  is  little  doubt  that,  except  in  large  cities  built  of  solid 
blocks  of  high  buildings,  a  satisfactory  lighting  can  be  ob- 
tained by  the  tower  system  with  a  smaller  number  of  lamps 
than  by  any  other. 

By  satisfactory  is  meant,  not  a  brilliant  lighting  of  the  cen- 
tre of  the  city  with  the  residence  portion  and  outskirts  in  dark- 
ness,— but  a  general  and  nearly  uniform  lighting  of  the  whole 
area  sufficiently  to  enable  persons  to  walk  and  drive  comfort- 
ably. The  most  perfect  tower  system  would  be  one  in  which 
each  tower  supported  one  large  powerful  arc  light  of  2000  or 
4000  nominal  candle  power.  This  would  be  manifestly  very 
expensive  in  towers  and  attendance,  so  that  very  good  practi- 
cal results  are  obtained  by  a  grouping  of  three  or  four  such 
lights  on  eacli  tower. 


HOW    TO    LIGHT    A    CITY.  99 

It  will  rarely  happen  that  the  tower  system  can  be  used  exclus- 
ively in  any  place.  There  will  always  be  dark  corners  that 
cannot  be  reached  except  at  great  expense,  and  in  such  locali- 
ties a  single  low  light  is  used  with  good  effect. 

The  advantages  of  the  tower  system  are  only  realized  when 
the  lamps  are  placed  high  enough  above  the  trees  and  build- 
ings, that  they  may  radiate  their  light  without  obstructions 
near  the  lamps. 

The  lamps  should  not  be  at  so  great  an  elevation,  as  that 
their  light  will  be  dissipated  in  the  air  before  reaching  the 
ground.  Towers  75  to  150  feet  high  have  given  good  results. 

Lights  of  less  than  2000  nominal  candle  power  will  probably 
prove  unsatisfactory  if  placed  on  towers.  One  of  the  prin- 
cipal advantages  of  the  tower  system  is  the  absence  of  those 
intense  and  sharply  cut  shadows  which  are  noticeable  when 
the  arc  lights  are  placed  near  the  ground. 

If  it  is  desired  to  have  gay  and  brilliantly  illuminated  streets, 
no  system  can  compare  with  that  of  arc  lights  on  low  supports. 
The  supports  may  be  posts  set  on  the  curb  line;  arms  extending 
out  beyond  the  curb,  or  arches  or  wires  holding  the  lamps  in 
the  center  of  the  streets.  Post  lights  are  of  little  value  on 
streets  that  are  thickly  shaded  by  trees.  A  small  obstruction 
near  a  lamp  shuts  off  the  light  from  a  large  area. 

On  shaded  streets  mast  arms  extending  out  beyond  the  trees 
should  be  used,  or  the  lamps  should  be  suspended  in  the  center 
of  the  street.  To  obtain  a  brilliant  illumination  a  lamp  will  be 
needed  at  each  street  crossing  and  also  mid  way  between.  These 
lamps  should  be  placed  not  less  than  30  feet  from  the  ground, 
otherwise  the  glare  of  the  light  will  be  disagreeable  to  persons 
riding  or  driving  toward  them. 

Lamps  of  more  than  2000  nominal  candle  power  give  more 
light  than  can  be  used  to  advantage  at  one  point  if  placed  on 
low  supports.  It  will  sometimes  be  found  desirable  to  use  "half 
arc  lamps"  which  give  about  1200  nominal  candle  power.  These 
require  about  half  as  much  power  as  the  full  arc  lamp  of  2000 
candles,  so  that  more  of  them  may  be  used  and  a  much  better 
distribution  obtained. 

The  electrical  apparatus  for  a  plant  of  half  arc  lights  will 
cost  somewhat  less  than  one  for  the  same  number  of  full  arcs. 
The  cost  of  erection  will  be  about  the  same  in  both. 


100  HOW    TO    LIGHT    A    CITY. 

The  boilers  and  engines  need  only  develop  a  little  over  half 
the  power  for  half  arcs,  hence  their  first  cost  and  fuel  bill  will 
be  about  half  what  they  would  be  for  full  arcs.  The  cost  of 
carbon  points  will  not  be  very  different  in  either  case.  In 
places  where  fuel  is  cheap  the  total  cost,  including  interest,  of 
operating  a  plant  of  half  arc  lamps  will  not  be  very  different 
from  that  of  a  plant  of  full  arcs — and  the  quantity  of  light  will 
be  much  less. 

Very  little  has  been  done  with  incandescent  lamps  for  street 
lighting  until  within  the  past  year.  The  principal  reason  for 
this,  has  been  that  incandescent  lights  could  not  be  carried  to 
great  distances  without  great  expense  for  conductors.  This 
difficulty  has  been  overcome  by  most  of  the  principal  electrical 
companies,  so  that  to-day  the  incandescent  light  may  be  car- 
ried practically  to  any  distance  that  arc  lights  can. 

Incandescent  lamps  for  long  distances,  if  the  direct  current 
is  used,  are  connected  by  the  multiple  series  system  of  distri- 
bution, in  which  case  each  lamp  is  supplied  with  an  automatic 
cut-out  so  that  if  it  fails  or  is  turned  out,  it  will  not  affect  the 
other  lamps.  If  the  alternating  system,  which  is  now  so  prom- 
inently before  the  public,  is  used, — each  lamp  is  entirely  in- 
dependent of  all  others.  The  same  quality  of  light  may  be 
obtained  by  either  system. 

If  the  quantity  of  light  produced  by  an  arc  lamp  be  com- 
pared to  that  produced  by  incandescent  lamps  for  the  same  ex- 
penditure of  power,  the  latter  appear  at  great  disadvantage. 
The  power  required  for  one  arc  lamp  of  2,000  nominal  candle 
power  will  produce  eight  incandescent  lights  of  16  actual  candle 
power. 

The  light  produced  by  an  arc  lamp  is  very  irregular  in  quan- 
tity and  quality  and  is  far  below  its  nominal  rating.  This  is 
due  to  the  wearing  away  of  the  carbon  points  and  the  con- 
stantly changing  length  of  the  arc,  even  if  the  machinery  in 
the  station  is  kept  in  its  proper  and  normal  condition. 

The  light  from  incandescent  lamps  under  the  same  condition 
is  practically  constant  as  to  quantity  and  quality.  The  lamps 
depreciate  after  a  time  and  the  lights  change,  but  this  is  not 
appreciable  with  good  lamps  under  three  months'  use. 

An  arc  lamp  gives  more  light  than  can  be  used  to  advantage 
at  one  point  unless  a  brilliant  illumination  is  required. 


HOW    TO     LI'.HT    A    </lTY.  101 

All  lights  lose  their  effect  very  rapidly  as  your  recede  from 
them.  The  loss  varies  as  the  square  of  the  distance.  If  a  light 
of  800  candle  power  were  placed  in  the  center  of  a  certain 
area  the  center  would  be  brilliantly  and  the  outer  edges  dimly 
lighted.  If  this  same  light  were  divided  into  eight  lights  of 
100  candles  each  and  equally  distributed  over  the  same  area — 
the  illumination  would  be  much  more  uniform  and  much  greater, 
although  the  same  total  candle  power  is  used  in  each  case. 

If  now  eight  lamps  of  16  candle  power  be  placed  at  the  same 
points,  the  distribution  will  be  the  same  as  before  but  the  quan- 
tity of  light  will  be  less  in  the  proportion  of  16  to  100.  The 
advantage  of  the  greater  candle  power  of  the  arc  light  is  there- 
fore off-set  by  the  much  better  distribution  of  the  incandescent, 
so  that  all  tilings  considered  the  incandescent  is  not  at  such  a 
disadvantage  as  would  appear  from  the  mere  comparison  of  the 
candle  power  of  the  different  lights. 

The  incandescent  system  is  well  adapted  for  places  which  do 
not  care  to  pay  for  the  most  brilliant  illumination,  but  will  be 
satisfied  with  less  light  providing  it  is  well  distributed.  This 
system  is  well  adapted  for  villages  which  have  never  had  street 
lighting,  for  the  reason  that  for  the  amount  of  light  needed, 
the  first  cost  of  the  plant  and  its  maintenance  will  be  less  than 
for  arc  lights. 

Where,  water  power  can  be  had,  it  will  furnish  a  very  cheap, 
reliable  and  satisfactory  light,  particularly  if  operated  in  con- 
nection with  water  distribution.  This  system  may  also  be  used 
to  advantage  to  displace  naptha  or  gas  lights. 

A  sixteen  candle  incandescent  lamp  can  be  made  to  give  16 
•i<-t>i<il  candles  of  light  under  all  conditions  of  weather.  Wind, 
snow,  sleet,  rain,  heat,  nor  cold  has  any  effect  on  it.  It  will 
give  from  two  or  three  times  as  much  light  as  is  given  by  the 
average  naptha  lamps  in  actual  practice.  It  will  give  more 
light  than  a  gas  burner,  burning  five  feet  of  the  best  quality, 
of  gas  per  hour,  and  much  more  than  the  usual  gas  lights  found 
on  our  streets. 

If  lights  of  more  than  16  candle  power  are  needed  at  any 
point,  they  may  be  had  of  2.5,  :}*J,  50,  64,  100  candle  power,  but 
it  must  be  remembered  that  as  the  candle  power  increases,  the 
power  required,  and  the  capacity  of  the  dynamos  and  conductors 
must  be  increased  in  about  the  same  proportion.  That  is,  50 


102  HOW   TO    LIGHT   A    CITY. 

thirty-two  candle  lamps  may  be  operated  by  the  same  dynamo, 
etc.,  required  by  100  sixteen  candle  lamps.  The  first  cost  of 
erection  will  be  less  for  the  former  than  for  the  latter.  The 
lights  will  be  twice  as  large  but  will  need  to  be  twice  as  far 
apart  to  light  the  same  length  of  street. 

The  cost  of  municipal  lighting  must  of  necessity  be  very 
different  in  different  localities,  depending  on  cost  of  superin- 
tendence, labor,  power,  carbons,  value  of  money,  etc.  In  order 
to  form  some  idea  of  the  cost  of  electric  lighting  in  large 
cities  let  us  suppose  the  special  case  of  a  city  requiring  1,000 
arc  lamps  of  2,000  nominal  candle  power,  to  be  lighted  every 
night  in  the  year  from  one  hour  after  sunset  to  one  hour  before 
sunrise,  or  about  3,700  hours. 

The  plant  will  be  supplied  with  50  light  dynamos  with  a 
capacity  of  1,200  lights.  The  power  will  be  furnished  by 
twelve  high  speed  automatic  engines  without  condensers,  belted 
direct  to  the  dynamos;  each  engine  driving  two  dynamos. 
Steam  will  be  supplied  by  boilers  of  1,200  lights  capacity  and 
the  whole  plant  erected  and  operated  in  the  most  substantial 
and  best  manner. 

Non-condensing  engines  have  been  selected  because  all  cities 
have  not  an  unlimited  supply  of  cheap  water.  High  speed 
direct  connected  engines  are  chosen  not  because  they  are  eco- 
nomical in  fuel  as  compared  to  large  slow  running  engines  of  the 
Corliss  type,  but  because  they  have  certain  other  advantages 
as  to  space,  division  of  power,  steadiness  of  revolution,  etc. 

The  wires  will  be  placed  underground  in  the  center  of  the 
city  and  on  poles  in  other  parts.  The  lamps  will  be  carried 
partly  on  towers  and  partly  on  low  supports  as  necessity  re- 
quires. 

Such  a  plant,  including  land,  buildings,  power,  dynamos, 
wiring  and  lamps  complete  and  running  will  cost,  in  round  fig- 
ures $350,000. 

Each  lamp  if  burned  all  night  will  require  three  12-inch  car- 
bons, or  1,100  per  year.  The  engines  selected  will  consume 
three  and  one-half  pounds  of  bituminous  coal  per  horse  power 
per  hour,  including  waste.  1,000  lights  require  1,000  horse 
power,  which  if  used  3,700  hours  per  year,  will  consume  1,000  x 
3,700x3j  =  12,950,000  pounds  of  coal,  or  about  6,500  tons. 


HOW    TO    LIGHT    A    CITY.  103 

The  cost  of  maintaining  1,000  arc-  lights  for  3,700  hours  per 
year  may  be  made  uj>  as  follows: 

M;t:ui<_cc-meut $   3.500 

Chief  engineer 1.800 

Chief  electrical  man 1.500 

Two  Assistant  Engineers  at  $750     1,500 

Two  Assistant  Dynamo  men  at  $750 1,500 

Two  Firemen  at  $750 1,500 

Fifteen  Trimmers  and  Linemen  at  $720 10,800 

Various  labor 2,'JOO 

$  25,000 

1,100  M.  Carbons  at  $12 13,200 

6,500  tons  coal  at  $2.50 16,250 

Oil 1,000 

Globes 1,000 

Supplier 1,550 

33,000 

Interest  on  $350,000  at  4  per  cent 14,000 

Depreciation  on  $200,000  at  10  per  cent 20.000 

34,000 

$  92,000 

On  this  basis  each  light  will  cost  $92  per  year,  or  2£  cents 
per  hour. 

The  cost  per  light  per  hour  will  vary  from  these  figures  con- 
siderably under  different  conditions. 

If  a  large  supply  of  cheap  water  can  be  had,  compound  con- 
densing engines  may  be  used.  Such  engines  consume  two 
pounds  of  coal  per  horse  power  per  hour,  if  engines  of  say  200 
horse  power  are  used. 

This  item  alone  effects  a  saving  of  2,800  tons  of  coal  a  year, 
or  $7,000,  which  brings  the  cost  per  lamp  per  year  down  to  $85. 

If  the  lights  are  only  used  part  of  the  night,  or  by  moon 
schedule,  the  cost  per  lamp  per  hour  will  be  higher  than  if  all 
night  lights  are  used  ;  because  the  plant  has  less  hours  per 
day  in  which  to  earn  money,  while,  what  may  be  called  the 
dead  expenses,  such  as  interest  and  management,  continue 
night  and  day. 

Large  plants  are  generally  run  with  less  expense  per  lamp 
per  hour  than  small  ones,  but  small  plants  are  only  used  in 
small  towns,  where  the  cost  of  ground  is  nominal,  labor  is  cheap, 
wire  may  be  strung  on  poles,  and  other  advantages  make  the 
first  cost  less,  and  hence  the  interest  account  less. 

A  plant  to  be  used  exclusively  for  municipal  lighting  will 
be  quite  different  from  one  used  for  commercial  lighting. 


104  HOW    TO    LIGHT   A    CITY. 

In  the  former  all  the  lights  are  started  at  one  time  and 
stopped  at  one  time. 

In  the  latter  the  lights  are  started  at  irregular  hours,  and 
stopped  at  much  more  irregular  hours.  Some  will  burn  all 
night  and  a  few  all  day. 

The  machinery  will  be  taxed  to  its  utmost  from  about  5  to 
10  P.  M.  and  have  very  little  to  do  the  rest  of  the  twenty-four 
hours. 

A  commercial  plant  requires  two  sets  of  men  in  the  station? 
one  for  the  day  and  one  for  the  night  run. 

A  municipal  plant  only  runs  at  night,  so  that  one  set  of  men 
can  do  all  the  work  with  a  little  extra  assistance  probably  dur- 
ing the  longest  nights  of  winter. 

The  selection  of  the  kind  of  engine  to  be  used  in  a  municipal 
plant  is  much  simpler  than  in  a  commercial  plant. 

As  the  engines  always  have  the  same  load,  advantage  can 
be  taken  of  using  large  engines,  which  are  more  economical 
than  small  ones,  when  both  are  doing  their  proper  work. 

If  condensers  are  applied  to  these  engines  and  they  are  com- 
pounded the  greatest  economy  can  be  obtained. 

No  plant  of  more  than  50  lights  should  depend  upon  one 
engine. 

A  1,000-light  plant  with  five  engines  of  200  horse  power 
would  be  very  economical  one  as  to  fuel  arid  attendance  and 
still  be  flexible  enough  to  meet  emergencies. 

Whether  large  or  small  engines  are  used,  no  municipality 
or  company  can  afford  to  use  any  but  the  very  best. 

Great  care  must  be  taken  to  obtain  close  regulation  of  speed, 
heavy  flywheels,  and  as  great  a  number  of  revolutions  per  min- 
ute as  the  engine  will  stand  with  safety. 

The  quality  of  the  light  depends  as  much  on  the  steady  and 
regular  speed  of  the  engine  as  upon  the  electrical  apparatus. 

It  will  not  pay  to  manufacture  light  with  poor  machinery 
any  more  than  it  will  pay  to  manufacture  cotton  cloth  or 
flour  with  a  half-built  mill. 

Good  machinery,  well  put  in,  is  reliable,  and  costs  the  least 
to  maintain. 

Do  not  buy  engines  that  are  too  large  or  too  small  for  their 
work. 


fte 


•LL  known  systems  of  electric  arc  lighting  are  built 
upon  the  same  general  principle.  There  is,  how- 
ever,  a  very  wide  difference  in  the  results  which 
they  accomplish.  Cost  of  construction,  economy 
of  power  and  maintenance,  durability,  safety  of  the 
armatures  from  burning,  and  simplicity  of  action,  are  all  items 
of  great  interest  to  the  purchaser.  Steadiness  of  light,  com- 
pactness of  apparatus,  protection  of  the  armature  and  field 
magnets,  as  well  as  perfect  automatic  regulation,  are  also  very 
important  points  which  should  be  considered  by  everyone 
looking  for  the  best  results  in  an  arc  light  plant. 

There  are  many  details  of  mechanical  and  electrical  construc- 
tion which  must  be  combined  to  produce  a  perfect  and  complete 
system.  The  dynamo  is,  of  course,  the  groundwork  and  source 
of  the  vital  force  of  all  electric  illuminators.  To  do  satisfac- 
tory work,  it  must  be  thorough  and  reliable  in  its  action,  and 
complete  in  all  its  parts. 

In  considering  the  comparative  value  of  the  different  systems 
the  vital  points  are:  1st,  first  cost;  2d,  economy,  efficiency 
and  depreciation;  3d,  reliability;  4th,  variety  and  value  of  the 
possible  sources  of  revenue,  if  the  purchaser  is  a  private  party, 
and  the  sources  of  economy,  if  a  municipality  is  purchasing; 
5th,  safety  to  life;  6th,  effects  upon  existing  property.  Some 
of  the  leading  systems  are  here  given  with  illustrations  show- 
ing the  different  appearance  of  the  dynamos  and  the  lamps: 


THE  AMERICAN. 


The  dynamo  machines  of  the  American  system  are  the  fruit 
of  many  years'  experience  and  study  by  Mr.  James  J.  Wood, 
the  electrician  of  the  American  Company.  The  merits  claimed 


106 


THE    MFFEKENT    SYSTEMS. 


for  the  American  system  are  that  its  apparatus  is  simply  and 
perfectly  constructed,  occupies  little  space  and  gives  a  great 
amount  of  energy  with  the  expenditure  of  a  given  po\ver.  It 
is  claimed  to  be  substantially  built  and  is  operated  with  little 
difficulty. 

The  armature  is  of   different  construction  from  any  other, 
being  made  in  the  form  of  a  ring  of  soft  iron  wire.     It  is  then 


THE    AMERICAN    DYNAMO. 

closely  covered  with  coils  of  carefully  insulated  copper  wire. 
These  coils  are  so  insulated  and  placed  in  the  new  armature  as 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  a  short  circuit  between  them. 

The  commutator  plays  an  important  part  in  the  protection  of 
the  armature.  The  narrow  copper  plates  of  which  it  is 
made  are  insulated  from  each  other  with  fire-proof  material. 
It  is  so  constructed  that  one  or  more  of  its  sections  may 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


107 


be  readily  removed,  without 
interfering  with  the  remaining 
ones.  The  center  is  composed 
of  a  gun  metal  spider,  so  con- 
structed as  to  afford  ventilation 
and  gives  the  greatest  strength 
with  the  least  weight.  The 
spider  also  absorbs  any  undue 
heat  that  may  be  electrically 
developed  in  the  ring.  The 
dynamo  is  placed  on  a  sliding 
base  so  that  the  belt  may  be 
tightened  or  loosened  while  it 
is  running.  Mr.  Wood  also 
claims  that  his  current  regula- 
tor is  different  from  the  auto- 
matic regulators  of  other  - .  S- 
tems.  As  the  number  of  lights 
is  increased  or  lessened  the 
brushes  are  automatically  shift- 
ed from  the  maximum  to  the 
minimum  point,  or  vice  versa, 
with  a  corresponding  increase 
or  diminution  of  power.  In. 
other  regulators  the  current 
does  the  work  of  shifting  the 
brushes. 

The  different  styles  of  lamps 
of  the  American  system  are 
unique  in  design.  The  feed 
rod  or  rods  are  governed  by  a 
small  train  of  clock  work,  which 
gives  them  precision  of  move- 
ment and  prevents  the  carbons 
from  slipping  past  each  other. 
There  are  no  clutches  or  glycer- 
ine used  in  their  construction  or 
operation.  The  frame  work  is 
water-tight  and  insulated  from 
the  circuit.  The  lamp  requires  no  hood  to  protect  it  from  the 


THE    AMERICAN    LAMP. 


108  THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 

weather.  The  wires  enter  the  binding  posts  from  the  top  and 
not  from  the  sides.  A  peculiar  device  prevents  turning  on  the 
current  before  the  lamp  is  ready  for  lighting,  and  so  protects 
it  from  the  chief  danger  of  burning  out. 

Mr.  Wood  also  has  a  cut-out  and  relighter,  by  which,  if  the 
light  is  extinguished  by  any  cause  or  from  any  accident,  the 
carbons  are  automatically  brought  into  contact  and  immediately 
re-lighted. 

THE  BALL. 

The  Ball  dynamo  is  made  from  wrought  iron,  a  feature 
claimed  to  belong  to  this  system  alone.  The  commutator  and 
means  for  driving  the  commutator  and  armature  are  constructed 
of  gun  metal,  and  the  mechanical  details  are  so  constructed  as 
to  form  no  closed  loops  for  generation  of  waste  or  Foucault 
currents,  a  feature  also  peculiar  to  the  Ball  machine.  This 
system  uses  the  Gramme  armature,  pure  and  simple — an  end- 
less iron  ring  entirely  surrounded  and  covered  by  an  endless 
coil  of  insulated  copper  wire.  The  machine  has  two  armatures, 
each  taking  one-half  the  tension. 


THE  BRUSH. 

Efficiency,  durability  and  simplicity  are  the  advantages 
claimed  by  the  manufacturers  of  the]Brush  system.  The  Brush 
light  is  really  the  pioneer  in  the  American  field,  and  new  inven- 
tions of  Mr.  Brush  have  largely  increased  the  advantages  of 
an  early  start. 

The  simplicity  of  the  machine,  the  mechanical  work,  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  pole-pieces  of  the  magnets,  the  small  clearance 
of  the  armature,  and  the  theory  and  working  of  the  commutator 
are  emphasized  by  its  users.  The  commutators  are  a  special 
feature,  and  the  mechanical  as  well  as  the  electrical  details  are 
thought  out  and  constructed  with  care. 

As  now  constructed,  a  "combination  "  can  be  attached  to  the 
larger  Brush  machines,  by  which  the  electro-motive  force  of  its 
current  can  be  immediately  changed.  Thus  a  machine  running- 
thirty  lights  of  2,000  candles  each  can,  in  an  instant,  be  altered 
so  as  to  run  fifteen  lights  of  4,000  candles.  The  power  of  a 


THi:     nr/FKKKNT    SYSTK.MS. 


109 


,      <         <    , 


110 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


single  light  can  be  immediately  doubled  by  the  use  of  this 
attachment. 

The  automatic  lamps  contain  no  clock-work  or  wheel-gearing 


BRUSH  ARC  LAMPS. 


of  any  sort.  The  automatic  cut-out  is  a  short-circuiting  device, 
by  which,  when  from  any  accident  a  lamp  is  damaged  and  fails 
to  regulate  properly,  the  current  passes  uninterruptedly  through 
it  and  the  general  circuit  remains  unaffected. 


THE    DIFFERENT    SVS'i 


111 


ruder  the  Brush  system 
any  number  of  arc  lamps, 
from  1  to  65  of  2,000  or 
1,200  candle-power,  or  any 
number  from  1  to  20, each  of 
6,000  or  greater  candle- 
power,  or  a  single  light  of 
120,000  candle-power,  can 
be  produced  from  a  single 
dynamo  machine.  The  con- 
ducting wires  may  be  ex- 
tended over  circuits  of  many 
miles  and  a  hundred  lamps 
or  more  may  be  operated  on 
a  single  wire. 

In  incandescent  lighting 
the  great  advantage  of  the 
Brush  machine  claimed  is 
its  automatic  action  in  con- 
trolling the  lamps  without 
resistances,  regulators,  or 
other  outside  devices.  The 
machine  is  built  to  operate 
lamps  of  sixteen  candles, 
and  eight  candles  each — the 
sixteen-candle  lamp  being 
the  standard.  Thus  the 
machine  for  300  lights  will 
maintain  300  sixteen-candle 
lamps,  600  eight-candle 
lamps,200  sixteen-candle  and 
200  eight-candle  lamps,  or 
any  other  combined  numbers 
up  to  its  limit,  allowing  two 
eight-candle  lamps  in  place 
of  each  sixteen-candle  lamp. 
Lamps  of  higher  power,  up 
to  150  candles,  can  also  be 
used  on  the  same  circuit. 
| |With  the  dynamo  running  at  a  uniform  speed,  any  number 


\ 


BRUSH-SWAN  LAMP. 


112  THE  DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS. 

of  lights,  from  one  up  to  the  maximum  number,  may  be  turned 
on  or  off  by  the  automatic  regulation  of  the  machine  itself. 
The  extinction  of  a  single  light  shows  immediately  a  correspond- 
ing saving  of  power. 

One  special  feature  upon  which  the  Brush  company  lays 
stress,  is  that  the  success  of  electric  lighting  has  been  due 
largely  to  Mr.  Brush's  researches  and  genius.  The  principles 
which  have  been  recognized  as  essential,  and  their  practical 
embodiment  in  mechanism,  are,  they  claim,  of  his  discovery  and 
invention.  These  inventions  have  been  covered  by  broad 
foundation  patents,  but  many  of  them  are  claimed  to  have  been 
infringed,  and  a  number  of  suits  at  law  against  infringers  are 
now  undergoing  prosecution  in  the  courts.  Doubtless  the  most 
important  of  these  is  the  suit  on  the  double  carbon  lamp,  which 
has  been  argued  at  considerable  length  in  the  United  States 
court  at  Indianapolis  before  Judge  Walter  Q.  Gresham.  It  is 
expected  that  this  suit  will  determine  the  entire  question  of  the 
right  to  use  double  lamps,  and  its  result  will  be  of  interest,  not 
alone  to  electric  light  companies,  but  to  every  purchaser  of 
electric  light  material,  be  it  a  private  or  municipal  corporation. 
This  question  should  not  be  ignored  by  the  city  authorities 
who  contemplate  the  purchase  of  plants. 

THE  CLARK. 

The  Gramme  system  of  dynamo  has  been  largely  used  for 
the  foundation  work  of  many  machines.  The  peculiar  feature 
of  the  Gramme  system  consists  in  the  style  of  armature,  which 
is  a  hollow  iron  cylinder  or  drum  open  at  both  ends,  which  re- 
volves around  its  axis,  and  on  which  coils  of  insulated  copper 
wire  are  wound  in  a  direction  parallel  to  this  axis,  which  wire 
is  wound  in  such  a  way  that  half  of  it  is  on  the  outside  and 
the  other  half  on  the  inside  of  the  drum.  This  drum  or  ar- 
mature revolves  between  the  poles  of  powerful  stationary  elec- 
tro magnets,  which  constitute  what  is  called  the  magnetic  field. 
The  operation  of  this  as  well  as  of  many  other  modern  dynamos 
consists  in  the  fact  discovered  by  Ampere  some  sixty  years 
ago,  namely,  that  when  a  conducting  wire  is  moved  across  a 
magnetic  field  an  electric  current  is  generated  in  this  wire,  the 
strength  of  which  is  increased  when  the  wire  is  duplicated  upon 


TI1K    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


113 


itself  by  coiling.  Another  important  feature  this  system  has 
•claimed  is  that  the  parts  of  the  iron  drum  which  pass  along  the 
poles  of  the  field  magnets  become  themselves  also  strongly 
magnetized  by  their  influence,  which  magnetization  is  a  power- 
ful additional  agent  increasing  the  electric  currents  developed. 
As  this  armature  is  revolving  between  the  two  poles  of  the 
magnetic  field,  it  was  said  that  only  half  of  the  wire  in  the 
<-oils  could  come  under  their  magnetic  influence,  namely,  only 


THE  CLARK  DYNAMO.  • 

that  on  the  outside  of  the  drum;  the  other  half  being  situated 
on  the  inside  could  not  be  reached  by  the  action  of  the  field 
magnets. 

Mr.  E.  P.  Clark,  of  Owego,  N.  Y.,  introduces  inside  the  drum  or 
armature  the  two  pole  pieces  of  a  second  electro-magnet,  so  as  to 
have,  in  addition  to  the  exterior  field  magnets,  also  a  pair  of  pole 
pieces  interiorly  situated,  and  which,  therefore,  can  act  upon  that 
half  of  the  armature  coils  which  is  on  the  inside  of  the  drum,  and 
in  the  ordinary  construction  beyond  the  influence  of  the  field 
magnets. 


114 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


Mr.  Clark  claims  two  merits  for  his  machine;  first,  that  it  is 
excited  by  a  very  small  power  and,  therefore,  that,  second,  it 
produces  a  greater  current  for  the  same 
outlay. 

THE  EXCELSIOR. 

The  dynamo  of  the  Excelsior  system  is 
the  result  of  careful  study  by  William 
Hochausen,  the  electrician  of  the  com- 
pany. The  armature  core  of  the  machine 
is  sectional,  making  it  possible  to  equip 
it  with  wire-helices  after  their  insulation 
has  been  tested.  A  small  rotary  electric 
motor  is  employed  in  conjunction  with 
the  Gramme  ring. 

The  current  from  the  dynamo  passes 
through  the  magnet  helices  of  a  con- 
trolling device,  which  sends  a  portion  of 
this  current  through  the  motor-armature, 
while  the  balance  of  it  traverses  an  arti- 
ficial resistance  consisting  of  two  pieces 
of  arc-light  carbon. 

If  the  current  tends  to  increase,  the 
armature  of  the  controlling  device  is 
drawn  towards  its  magnet  till  it  touches 
the  lower  contact-point,  sending  the  cur- 
rent through  the  motor-armature  in  such 
a  direction  that  it  revolves  the  ring  for- 
ward, cutting  field-coils  out.  When  the 
current  decreases,  the  motor  is  caused  to 
revolve  in  the  opposite  direction,  cutting 
coils  in. 

The  commutator  bars  are  fastened  to 
a  stone  plate  and  are  separated  from  each 
other  by  air  spaces.  The  current  from 
CLARK  LAMP  ^e  macnine  is  sent  through  the  lamps, 

or  withdrawn  from  them,  by  means  of  a 

switch,  which  does  not  break  the  circuit  suddenly,  but  merely 
deprives  the  magnet-helices  of  the  exiting  current,  lowering 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


115 


the  power  of  the  magnetic  field  down  to  zero  and  causing  a 
cessation  of  current  in  the  armature. 

The  regulation  of  the  lamp  is  effected  in  the  following  man- 


EXCELSIOR    DYXAMO. 


ner:  The  movement  of  the  upper  carbon  holder  is  controlled 
by  a  train  of  wheels,  carried  on  a  lever  which  swings  on  a  ful- 
crum. The  escapement  is  arrested  when  the  lever  is  swung  so 
as  to  lift  the  carbons  apart,  and  set  free  when  they  are  caused 


116 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


to  approach  each  other.  The  end  of  the  lever  carries  a  U 
shap  ed  iron  core,  whose  straight  parts  are  surrounded  by  fine 
wire-helices  fastened  to  the  floor  of  the  lamp-case,  and  has 
attached  to  it  a  retractile  spring  capable  of  adjustment.  The 
iron  core  of  a  coarse  wire-helix  is  resting 
on  the  same  lever,  and  depresses  it,  owing 
to  its  weight  overcoming  the  pull  of  the 
spring.  This  helix  forms  part  of  the  light 
circuit,  and  raises  its  core  as  soon  as  the 
current  is  sent  through  the  lamp,  thereby 
allowing  the  spring  to  lift  the  carbons  apart 
by  means  of  the  lever  and  gear-train. 
When  the  carbons  burn  with  a  small  sepa- 
ration the  resistance  in  the  light  circuit  is 
low;  but,  as  the  carbon  ends  are  consumed 
by  the  current,  the  separation  increases,  and 
the  current  has  more  resistance  to  overcome 
in  the  arc.  A  shunt  receives  the  constantly 
increasing  amount  of  current,  and  draws  its 
core  and  the  lever  attached  to  it,  down,  till 
the  escapement  is  released  and  the  wheel- 
train  allowed  to  move  sufficiently  to  let  the 
carbons  approach.  No  external  part  of  the 
lamp  is  in  contact  with  the  circuit.  To 
receive  a  shock  while  handling  it  is  there- 
fore impossible. 

The  company  claim  for  the  system  safety, 
workmanship  and  material  and  durability. 

I'  I! 

i|i 

THE  FORT  WAYNE  JENNEY. 

The  dynamo  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Jenney 
system  was  first  patented  in  1882,  and  im~ 
EXCKLSIOR  LAMP,     provements  in  details  have  been  made  from 

time  to  time. 

Looking  at  the  cut  of  the  dynamo,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
magnets  consist  of  two  long,  heavy  pieces  of  cast  iron,  bolted 
together  at  the  point  which  is  neutral  or  of  least  magnetic  force. 
The  dynamo  has  but  two  pieces  in  its  frame,  as  described,  and 
the  advantages  resulting  from  this  construction  are  said  to  be  in 


THE    DIKFKKKNT 


117 


118 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


the  electrical  efficiency   of  the  machine  and  the  stability  and 
durability  secured  by  its  compact  and  self-contained  form.  The 

concave  surfaces  of  the  poles  of  the 
magnets  are  accurately  bored  out  so 
that  the  space  between  the  armature 
and  the  magnet  is  reduced  to  the 
smallest  practical  limit.  The  shaft, 
which  carries  the  revolving  arma- 
ture, runs  in  bearings  which  are  cast 
on  the  bell-shaped  brackets  shown 
in  the  cut.  These  are  so  securely 
bolted  to  the  frame  of  the  machine 
as  to  form,  in  effect,  one  piece.  By 
this  construction  the  permanency  of 
adjustment  of  all  the  movable  parts 
of  the  dynamo,  is  made  secure. 

The  armature  is  of  cylindrical 
shape,  and  in  form  and  construction 
all  parts  are  made  easy  of  access.  If 
any  coil  of  wire  be  injured  so  that  it 
is  necessary  to  replace  it,  this  may  be 
done  without  disturbing  any  other 
coil. 

The  case  of  the  lamp  contains  a 
regulating  mechanism  with  a  double 
clutch  feed,  which  controls  the  feed- 
ing of  the  carbon-rod.  This  mechan- 
ism permits  the  carbons  to  come  very 
close  together,  thus  producing  a  short 
arc.  Each  lamp  is  provided  with  a 
switch  for  extinguishing  or  lighting 
it,  and 'an  automatic  cut-out  where- 
by the  lamp  is  protected  in  case  of 
accident,  as  it  is  immediately  cut  out 
of  circuit  and  the  current  allowed 
to  pass  around  the  lamp. 

FORT  WAYNE  JENNEY 

LAMP.  Believing  that  the  best  results  are 

obtained    by   running   incandescent 

lamps  off  dynamos  made  specially  for  the  purpose,  this  com- 
pany have  made  a  new  machine  which  is  adapted  to    this  pur- 


TUB    1HFFKRKNT    SYSTKMv 


119 


POM-.  Any  or  all  the  lamps  can  be  turned  out,  and  the  dynamo 
accommodates  itself  to  the  work  without  the  use  of  rheostats 
or  other  controllers. 


THE  HEISLER. 

The  Heisler  long  distance  incandescent  system    furnishes  a 
five  ampere  current  which   is   generated  and  taken   from  the 


THE    HEISLER    DYNAMO. 

stationary  part  of  the  dynamo  instead  of  the  rotating  part, 
(which  is  different  from  the  machines  of  all  other  incandescent 
systems.)  This  stationary  part  consists  of  segments  which  can 
be  disconnected  and  taken  out  at  any  time,  thereby  enabling 
the  engineer  to  keep  them  clean  which  will  insure  perma- 
nent regular  service  without  repair  or  expense.  The  Heisler 
company  lay  stress  upon  the  claim  that  they  are  combining  the 


120  THE  DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS. 

Rumination  of  streets,  stores  and  dwellings  with  20,  30,  45  and 
60-candle  lamps  on  a  single  wire,  No.  8,  American  guage,  hard- 
drawn,  braided,  weather-proof  covering  for  outside  lines  and 
No.  11  fire  proof  for  indoor  purposes.  The  lamps  are  connected 
in  series,  and  no  mathematical  calculation  is  necessary.  The 
current  can  be  carried  to  any  desired  distance. 


HEISLER  LAMP. 

The  first  plant  of  the  Heisler  system  for  street  illumination 
was  erected  in  Vincennes,  Ind.,  about  the  first  of  October,  1886. 
One  hundred  intersections  of  streets  in  the  suburbs  were  pro- 
vided with  one  30  candle  power  light  each  and  supplied  by  one 
circuit  of  1 1  miles  of  wire.  The  electric  illumination  in  these 


THE  DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS. 


121 


suburbs  is  furnished  at  one-third  the  price  paid  for  gas  in  the 
interior  of  the  city. 

Incandescent  illumination  of  the  streets  on  a  larger  or  smaller 
scale  is  furnished  in  connection  with  the  following  central 
station  plants  of  the  Heisler  system:  Monticello,  Minn.,  Man- 
kato,  Minn.,  Pendleton,  Ore.,  Liberty,  Mo.,  Matteawan,  N.  Y., 
170  street  lights  of  20  and  30  candle  power  at  the  rate  of  $20 
and  $25  each  per  annum,  distributed  with  reference  to  the 
taxes  paid  by  the  property  holders,  over  18  miles  of  circuit. 
Eugene  City,  Ore.,  East  Portland,  Ore.,  Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  75 
street  lights.  Wabash,  Ind.,  130  30-candle  power  lights,  one 
at  each  intersection,  a  circuit  of  12  miles  of  wire  to  take  place 
of  tower  lights.  Ocean  Grove,  N.  J.,  200  incandescent  lamps, 
one  at  each  intersection,  for  the  illumination  of  the  boulevards. 

THE  HILL. 

A  new  dynamo  lias  recently  been  designed  by  W.  S.  Hill,  of 
Boston,  which  is  said  to  have  some  good  features.  The  frame 

is  made  of  cast- 
iron,  but  the  mag- 
net cores  and  pole 
pieces  are  of  soft 
wrought-iron,  the 
effect  of  which  is 
to  give  nearly  or 
quite  as  good  re- 
sults as  if  the  whole 
frame  was  made  of 
wrought  iron,  with 
a  very  considerable 
saving  of  cost. 

The  armature  is 
o  f  peculiar  con- 
struction, and  is 
claimed  to  develop 
no  heat  in  the  iron, 
the  machine  being 
guaranteed  to  run 
cool,  unless  great- 

jy      overloaded      so 


THE    HILL    DYNAMO. 


to  r.iusr  heating  of  the  wires  from  excess  of  current. 


122 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


The  field  magnets  are  shunt-wound  for  incandescent  lighting 
and  give  very  perfect  regulation.  It  has  as  yet  been  made  only 
in  small  sizes  often  to  100  lights  ;  a  machine  weighing  2  80  Ibs. 
gives  50-70  volts,  16-candle  power 
lamps,  at  2,000  revolutions;  a  10-light 
machine  weighs  125  Ibs. 

A  large  machine  for  arc  lighting  is 
in  process  of  construction  and  will 
be  fitted  with  a  new  automatic  current 
regulator,  recently  patented  by  Mr. 
Hill. 

The  arc  lamp  of  this  system  is  sim- 
ple in  construction  and  free  from  del- 
icate mechanism.  It  is  made  to  take 
currents  of  from  four  to  ten  amperes. 
In  a  new  cut-out  switch  for  arc  or  series 
circuits  the  terminals  are  mounted  at 
either  end  of  a  base  board,  between 
which  is  placed  a  stand  carrying  two 
spring  levers,  with  insulated  connectors 
of  thin  sheet  copper.  A  cam  lever 
operates  to  depress  and  close  either 
circuit  before  the  other  can  be  broken; 
thus,  if  a  loop  or  circuit  of  lamps  in  a 
building  is  to  be  cut  into  a  main  cir- 
cuit, as  the  cam  lever  is  turned,  the 
copper  brush  connectors  will  be  pressed 
down  between  the  inclined  surfaces  of 
the  double  pole  terminals  of  the  new 
circuit  before  the  connection  with  the 
main  can  be  broken.  A  stout  spring 
that  surrounds  the  axis  of  the  spring 
levers  is  arranged  to  raise  and  open 
the  circuit  of  both  sets  of  connectors 
in  common,  as  the  handle  is  turned 
in  either  direction.  The  switch  is  cov- 
ered with  a  neat  box  with  a  glass  cover,  through  which  the 
words  "ON"  and  "OFF"  can  be  seen  on  the  handle  of  the  cam 
lever. 


HILL  LAMP. 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS.  123 

THE  INDIANAPOLIS  JENNEY. 

This  system  may  be  placed  under  three  heads:  the  arc, 
multiple  incandescent,  and  series  incandescent. 

The  dynamo  used  in  connection  with  the  arc  system  is  series 
wound,  the  field  magnets  being  of  the  compound  horse  shoe 
type  with  consequent  poles.  The  iron  of  the  field  magnets  is 
cast  in  two  parts  and  bolted  together  at  the  neutral  points  where 
it  is  scraped  to  a  surface,  thus  reducing  the  magnetic  resistance 
due  to  joints  in  the  magnet  frame. 

The  armature  is  wound  similar  to  the  Gramme  ring,  but  is 
much  longer  in  proportion  to  its  diameter.  Special  spiders  are 
provided  by  which  the  armature  is  rigidly  secured  to  the  shaft. 

The  collector  or  commutator  is  composed  of  numerous  strips 
of  pure  rolled  copper,  having  strips  projecting  outward  and 
connecting  with  the  armature  coils.  The  sections  of  the  com- 
mutator are  insulated  with  mica  and  all  securely  clamped  and 
fastened  together.  On  each  side  of  the  magnet  frame,  and  ex- 
tending from  one  end  to  the  other  is  an  iron  arm  which  supports 
the  boxes  within  which  the  armature  shaft  revolves.  These 
boxes  are  fitted  in  a  special  jig  making  them  interchangeable 
and  self-lining.  A  very  important  feature  in  connection  with 
this  dynamo  is  the  automatic  regulator,  which  shifts  the  brushes 
to  compensate  for  variations  in  the  resistance  of  the  circuit, 
and  also  for  variations  in  the  speed  of  the  dynamo.  Any 
number  of  lights  from  one  to  the  full  capacity  of  the  dynamo 
can  be  turned  off  and  on,  and  the  regulator  will  preserve  con- 
stant current  on  the  line.  As  the  E.  M.  F.  generated  is  only 
sufficient  to  overcome  the  resistance  of  the  line  and  the  lamps 
in  operation,  the  power  consumed  by  the  dynamo  is  about  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  lamps  in  circuit. 

The  arc  lamp  in  connection  with  this  system  is  very  free  from 
complicated  devices.  It  has  the  carbon  holder  rod,  a  clutch, 
two  sets  of  hollow  coils,  known  as  solenois,  an  automatic  cut- 
out, hand-switch,  etc. 

The  clutch  used  is  so  constructed  that  in  operation  it  does 
not  let  go  of  the  feeding  rod,  but  merely  loosens  enough  to 
allow  it  to  slide  the  desired  distance,  when  further  movement 
is  arrested  by  the  controlling  magnets  within  the  lamp.  The 
double  lamp  works  in  the  same  manner  but  in  addition  to  the 


124 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


THE    DIKFKRKNT    SYSTKMS. 


125 


parts  used  in  the  single  lamp,  is  a  device  which  maintains  an 
•exact  adjustment  and  equal  illuminating  power  of  both  sets 
of  carbons.  It  is  immaterial  which  sot  burns  first. 

In  connection  with  this  system  arc  all  the  essential  accessories, 
such  as  switch  boards,  ampere  meters,  lightniijg  arresters,   etc. 

The  dynamo  used  with  the  multiple  incandescent,  is  also  of 
the  compound  horse  shoe  form,  but  in  the  matter  of  propor- 
tioning and  constructing  is  very  dissimilar. 
The  two  magnet  columns  are  fastened  in  a 
vertical  position  to  a  heavy  base,  which 
supports  strong  upright  castings  upon 
which  the  journal  boxes  are  secured. 
These  columns  are  connected  at  the  top  by 
a  massive  yoke. 

The  armature  of  the  machine  is  also  a 
modification  of  the  Gramme.  The  iron 
•core  is  composed  of  numerous  thin  soft 
iron  plates,  all  thoroughly  insulated,  bolted 
together  and  securely  fastened  to  the 
heavy  spiders  which  are  keyed  to  the  ar- 
mature shaft. 

There  is  but  one  layer  of  copper  wire 
wound  on  the  core,  and  the  resistance  is 
very  low.  This  machine  is  shunt  wound 
And  not  compounded.  All  the  magnetic 
parts  are  very  heavy  and  with  constant 
speed  the  machine  is  very  nearly  auto- 
matic. 

The  series  system  of  incandescent  light- 
ing is  designed  to  meet  the  wants  of 
those  desiring  a  system  where  incandes- 
cent  lamps  can  be  operated  at  a  great  dis- 
tance from  the  dynamo  with  a  small  percentage  of  loss  in  the 
conducting  of  wires,  and  without  the  enormous  expenditure  for 
copper,  which  would  be  unavoidable  if  the  multiple  system 
were  used.  With  this  system  the  lamps  are  placed  in  series, 
and  may  be  of  diiferent  candle  power,  as  no  balancing  is  re- 
quired to  maintain  the  current  at  constant  strength. 

The  dynamo  used  is  shunt  wound.     An  automatic  regulator 
•controls  the  current  by  operating  a  rheostat  which  is  placed  in 


JENNBY 


126 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


the  field  shunt  circuit.  Therefore,  when  but  a  few  lights  are 
being  used,  only  a  small  amount  of  power  is  required.  All 
lamps  of  this  system  are  provided  with  automatic  cut-outs, 
which  short  circuit  the  terminals  of  any  lamp  when  the  carbon 
in  it  is  broken.  The  lamps  are  also  provided  with  a  hand- 
switch  for  turning  on  or  off,  and  are  so  constructed  that  the 
lamp  cannot  be  taken  from  the  socket  when  the  switch  is  turned 
on,  nor  can  it  be  switched  on  when  there  is  no  lamp  in  the 
socket.  It  is,  therefore,  impossible  for  a  careless  person  to  open 
the  circuit  and  form  an  arc  in  the  cut-out. 


THE  LOOMIS. 

It  is  the  claim  of  the  Loomis  company  that  their  incandes- 
cent dynamo  is  entirely  automatic,  requiring  no  more  attention 


LOOMIS    DYNAMO. 

than  a  line  of  shafting.  It  is  conspicuous  by  the  absence  of 
switches,  resistance  boxes  and  other  appliances,  and,  by  dis- 
pensing with  the  employment  of  skilled  attendance,  diminishes 
the  running  expenses.  The  system  is  mainly  applicable  to 
isolated  lighting,  but  the  company  furnish  an  arc  lamp  which  is 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


127 


said  to  feed  its  carbons  with  such  steadiness  as  to  abolish  all 
*'  frying"  sounds  familiar  to  arc  systems.  The  company  is 
but  lately  organized. 


THE  MATHER. 

In  form  and  mechanism  the  dynamo  of  the  Mather  system  is 
unique  in  appearance  and  noiseless  in  operation.  It  is  designed 
especially  for  isolated  incandescent  lighting. 


THE  MATHER 
THE  MATHER  DYNAMO.  LAMP. 

The  Perkins  lamp,  which  is  manufactured  by  this  company, 


128 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


is  claimed  to  have  a  characteristic  merit  of  freedom  from  dis- 
coloration. The  dynamo  is  wound  for  a  pressure  of  126  volts 
and  produces  twelve  sixteen-candle  power  lights  to  the  horse- 
power. 

THE  MUTUAL. 

The  dynamo  of  the  Mutual  system  is  of  the  Gramme  type. 
Its  sectional  armature  admits  of  the  building  of  a  Gramme 
ring  with  little  expense,  with  uniformity  of  winding,  and  it  is 
compactly  built.  It  is  claimed  that  the  machines  embrace 


THE    MUTUAL    DYNAMO. 


Till:    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


129 


points  of  novelty  and  practical  utility  which  tend  to  make 
them  durable,  safe  and  certain.  The 
lamps  work  on  what  is  known  as  the 
derived  circuit  principle,  there  being 
no  differential  action  whatever;  the 
feed  being  positive  and  the  length  of 
the  arc  nearly  constant.  All  of  the  ac- 
tion is  accomplished  by  the  direct  action 
of  magnetism  and  gravity,  without 
springs,  dashpots,  or  similar  retarding 
devices. 


LtCTWC. 


MUTUAL  LAMP. 


SAWYER-MAN  LAMP. 


130 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


'    A  peculiarity  of  the  double  lamp  is  that  one  set  of  carbons 
can  be  handled  and  trimmed  while  the  "other  is  in  action. 


THE  SAWYER-MAN. 


The  dynamos  of  the  Sawyer-Man  system  are  claimed  to  be 
automatic  in  their  regulation,  and  will  maintain  a  uniform  light? 


THE    SAWYER-MAN. 

with  all  or  any  portion  of  the  lights  in  circuit.  The  lamps  will 
not  blacken  and  will  maintain  their  candle  power  during  their 
guaranteed  life. 

The  Sawyer-Man  lamps  have  a  distinctive  form  of  carbon 
loop,  somewhat  similar  to  the  many  forms  of  incandescent  lamps 
now  before  the  public.  The  filament  is  constructed  of  the 
same  material  which  the  most  successful  have  used,  but  the  com- 
pany claim  for  the  lamp  superior  advantages,  resulting  from 
their  special  method  of  treating  it. 


1I1K     DIFFKKKNT    SVSTKMS. 


131 


THE  SCHUYLEK. 

The  features  claimed  for  the  Schuyler  ilynaino  are:     Acces- 
sibility of  every  part  for  inspection  uml  repairs.     The  dynamo 


THE    SCHUVLER    DVXA.MO. 


can  be  taken  apart  and  put  together  in  fifteen  minutes.  The 
arrangements  for  lubricating  are  peculiar.  A  Schuyler  requires 
oiling  not  oftener  than  once  a  month.  Low  speed  of  dynamo 
for  given  output  of  current. 

The  series  lamp  of  the  Schuyler  system  is  an  incandescent  or 
glow  lamp  which  is  cut  into  the  arc  circuit,  without  resistance 
coils,  regulator,  converter  or  other  auxilliary  apparatus.  It 
gives  a  clear,  white  light,  and  is  made  of  any  desired  candle 
power. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  the  series  lamps  should  be  run  in 
groups;  it  is  not  necessary  that  lamps  on  the  same  circuit 
should  be  of  equal  candle  power.  The  only  limit  to  the  num- 
ber of  lamps  that  can  be  placed  on  a  given  circuit  is  the  limit 
of  capacity  of  the  dynamo.  The  series  lamp  can  be  mingled 
indiscriminately  with  arc  lamps  upon  the  same  wire,  and  will 
furnish  about  two  hundred  candles  per  horse  power.  The  dis- 
tance to  which  series  lamps  can  be  used  from  supplying  station 
is  the  same  as  with  arcs;  and  the  brilliancy  or  efficiency  of  the 
lamps  is  not  affected  by  distance,  nor  by  the  size  of  the  circuit 
wires,  which  can  remain  the  same  for  all  ordinary  distances, 


132 


THK    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


precisely  as  for  arc  lamps.  The 
lamp  is  furnished  with  a  simple 
automatic  cut-out,  within  the 
lamp,  to  act  in  case  of  rupture  of 
filament. 

The  Schuyler  series  incandes- 
cent lamp  can  be  run  on  any 
system  using  from  six  to  ten 
ampere  current.  The  Schuyler 
arc  light  is  generated  from  a  dy- 
namo with  a  ventilated  armature, 
with  which  it  is  claimed  to  be 
impossible  to  have  a  burn-out. 

THE  THOMSON-HOUSTON. 

In  the  dynamo  of  the  Thom- 
son-Houston system  the  field 
magnets  consist  of  two  hollow 
cylinders,  which  are  supported 
by  a  frame,  which  also  carries 
the  bearings  for  the  armature 
shaft.  The  inner  end  of  each 
cylinder  is  formed  by  a  spherical 
cap  having  an  opening  in  the 
centre,  and  the  two  are  brought 
together,  so  as  to  leave  a  spher- 
ical space  in  which  the  armature 
revolves.  At  their  outer  ends 
the  'cylinders  are  fianged  and 
form  annular  plates.  These 
plates  are  connected  by  iron  bars 
which  unite  them  magnetically, 
and  at  the  same  time  act  as  a 
protection  for  the  wire  wound 
around  the  cylinders. 

The  magnetic  field  generated 
by  these  means  is  spherical  in 
form  and  is  consequently  occu- 
pied by  an  armature  similarly 
shaped.  This  armature  consists  of  only  three  bobbins  of  wire 


SCHUYLER  LAMP. 


THE  DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS. 


133 


wound  around  a  core  of  iron  resembling  in  form  an  ellipsoid  of 
revolution.  The  ellipsoid  is  built  up  of  two  concave  plates 
fixed  on  the  shaft,  and  the  edges  of  which  are  bridged  over  by 
light  iron  cross-pieces.  On  these  cross-pieces  there  is  wound  a 
certain  quantity  of  iron  wire  which  is  oxidized  and  varnished 
#o  as  to  insulate  the  various  layers. 

Each  bobbin   is  cut  out  of  circuit  the   moment  it   traverses 


THE    THOMSON-HOUSTON    ABC    DYNAMO. 

the  region  of  small  effect,  but  by  means  of  a  simple  arrange- 
ment, the  cutting  out  of  circuit  of  each  bobbin  takes  place  at 
the  instant  the  latter  reaches  a  point  60°  from  the  neutral  line; 
or,  in  other  words,  when  it  has  reached  a  point  at  which  it  i* 
no  longer  important  to  gather  the  current. 

Prof.  Thomson  regulates  the  current  of  his  machine  by  vary- 
ing the  position  of  the  brushes  with  respect  to  the  commutator, 
and  he  accomplishes  this  object  in  two  \vav>. 


134 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


The  first  method,  which  he  terms  forward  regulation,  is 
employed  when  a  diminution  of  current  is  required,  and  con. 
sists  simply  in  advancing  the  position  of  the  brushes  a  certain 
distance  on  the  commutator. 

The  second  method  is  termed  backward 
regulation,  and  is  that  which  is  now  gen- 
erally applied  to  this  machine.  Under 
normal  conditions,  the  brushes  in  each  pair 
form  an  angle  of  60°  between  them,  and 
touch  the  commutator  at  points  also  60° 
apart,  consequently  the  angular  distance 
between  the  first  of  one  pair  and  the  second 
of  the  other  pair  of  brushes  is  120°,  i.  e., 
the  length  of  one  segment  of  the  commu- 
tator. It  is  evident  that  with  this  ar- 
rangement none  of  the  bobbins  will  be 
cut  out  of  the  circuit,  since  each  segment 
of  the  commutator  will  have  to  pass  from 
one  pair  of  brushes  to  the  other  at  the  in- 
stant the  bobbin  itself  is  at  the  neutral 
line;  thus  there  are  always  two  bobbins  in 
parallel,  joined  in  series  with  a  third. 

The  Thomson-Houston  machine  works 
at  high  potentials. 

THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  dynamo  used  in  the  United  States 
arc  system  resembles  in  its  general  features 
of  construction  that  used  in  the  incan- 
descent system,  but  is  modified  in  certain 
details  to  produce  the  different  quality  of 
current  required  for  arc  lamps.  A  marked 
peculiarity  of  the  United  States  system  is 
the  shortness  of  the  arc  or  separation  be- 
tween the  carbons,  it  being  about  one 
thirty-second  of  an  inch  in  length,  as  com- 
pared with  one  sixteenth  to  one  eighth  of  an  inch  in  other 
systems.  This,  the  company  claims,  enables  a  given  number 
of  lamps  to  be  worked  with  a  current  of  correspondingly  low 
tension.  Stress  'is  ^laid  upon  the  high  efficiency  of  the  lamps 


N-  H  O  USTOfJ , 


THOMSON-HOUSTON 

LA.MI'. 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


135 


THE    UNITED    STATES    DYNAMO. 


and  dynamos,  which,  it  is  claimed, 
makes  it  possible  to  operate  a  given 
number  of  lamps  with  smaller  boilers 
and  engines  than  are  required  with 
other  systems.  The  company  has 
several  different  systems  of  wiring, 
each  of  which  is  adapted  to  meet  cer- 
tain requirements  of  station  lighting. 
The  company's  claims  are:  Great 
simplicity,  economy  of  operation, 
economy  in  cost  of  mains,  and  that 
it  can  be  distributed  widely  with 
commercial  success.  The  company 
pays  particular  attention  to  the  in- 
candescent system,  both  for  interior 
and  exterior  work. 

THE  VAN  DEPOELE. 

The  main  features  of  the  Van  De- 
poele  dynamo  consist  in  the  peculiar 
disposition  of  the  field  magnets,  the 
construction  of  the  armature,  the  sim- 


U.  S.  INCANDESCENT  LAMP. 


136 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


UNITED  STATES  ARC  LAMP. 


plicity  of  all  parts  of  the 
apparatus,  compactness,  ease 
of  management  and  control 
of  the  current  to  the  work 
called  for. 

The  field  magnets  consist 
of  two  large  coils  of  copper 
wire  wound  around  two  soft 
iron  cores,  their  north  and 
south  poles  facing  each 
other,  and  between  these 
poles  revolves  the  armature. 
To  the  soft-iron  cores  of  the 
field  magnets  are  cast  on 
one  end  heavy  back  plates, 
while  to  the  other  end  are 
secured  the  semi-circular 
pole  pieces  between  which 
the  armature  revolves  in 
close  proximity  to  the  latter. 
The  back  plates  of  the  mag- 
nets are  secured  between  the 
top  and  bottom  plates,  hold- 
ing the  whole  in  position 
and  making  a  most  solid 
frame.  To  the  lower  plate, 
and  in  its  center,  which  is 
neutral,  are  cast  two  exten- 
sions upon  which  are  placed 
the  posts  or  bearings  sup- 
porting the  armature  shaft; 
this  disposition  allows  the 
posts  to  be  comparatively 
short,  providing  a  very  rigid 
support  for  the  revolving 
armature.  Further,  the 
whole  frame  may  be  consid- 
ered as  a  very  long  electro- 
magnet, with  its  poles  in- 
verted toward  the  center. 


T11K     niKFKKKNT    >Y-TKMS. 


137 


The  armature  consists  of  a  frame  made  of  a  number  of  iron 
bars,  each  separated  from  the  other;  these  bars  are  riveted  to 
the  inner  and  outer  periphery  of  two  metal  rings,  several  of 
these  rings  being  placed  between  the  inner  and  outer  layers  of 
iron  bars.  And  finally,  the  rings  and  bars  are  riveted  together 
so  as  to  form  a  solid  frame.  It  is  claimed  that  with  this  ar- 
mature it  is  unnecessary  to  provide  for  ventilation,  since  it  is 


THE  VAN  DEPOELE  DYNAMO. 


said  there  is  no  heat  generated.  The  electro  motive  force  of  the 
current  is  kept  down  as  low  as  possible  and  burns  short  arcs  in 
the  lamps. 

The  principal  features  of  the  lamp  are  two  electro  magnets, 
one  in  the  main  and  one  in  the  shunt  circuit;  to  the  latter  is 
hinged  a  soft-iron  armature,  the  free  end  of  which  moves  under 
the  influence  of  the  opposite  pole  of  the  main  magnet.  This 
armature  carries  the  carbon  lifter,  so  that  any  motion  imparted 
to  the  armature,  under  the  influence  of  its  electro-magnets,  is 
directly  communicated  to  the  lifter,  either  separating  the  car- 


138 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


bons  or  allowing  the  same  to  feed.     An  incandescent  lamp  is 
also  made  by  the  company. 


VAN  DEPOELE  INCANDESCENT 
LAMP. 


VAN  DEPOELE  ARC 
LAMP. 


THE  WATERHOUSE. 

The  Waterhouse  company  claim  for  their  system  a  full  2,000 
candle  power  light  on  three-quarters  of  a  horse  power,  includ- 
ing friction.  They  also  manufacture  an  eight  and  one-half 
ampere  light,  which  they  guarantee  at  .63  horse  power  per  light, 
including  friction.  The  lamps  of  this  system  burn  long  arc 
and  are  made  in  single  carbon  lamps  either  with  clutch  or  rack 
feed  and  a  double  lamp  that  has  the  feature  of  being  the  same 
as  a  single  lamp,  one  side  being  disconnected  while  the  other 
side  is  burning.  The  lamp  magnet  is  the  same  in  all  the  lamps 
and  is  a  new  form  of  magnet.  It  controls  the  lifting  median 


TIM:   im-'KKiiKNT  SYSTEMS.  139 

ism  of  the  lamp  so  that  a  steady  feed  is  obtained.  The  method 
of  regulation  for  the  dynamo  is  new.  If  a  light  or  lights  are 
turned  out  the  result  on  the  field  magnets  is  that  the  current 
that  passes  around  them  is  reduced  and  therefore  in  cutting  out 
lights  down  to  one  light  or  none,  very  little  current  passes  around 
the  field  magnets,  and  the  machine  is  not  capable  of  producing 


THK     WATERHOU8K     DYNAMo. 

• 

a  greater  current  than  the  standard.  The'  regulator  controls 
the  supply.  If  the  speed  lessens,  the  current  increases  in  the 
field  magnets,  and  the  generating  capacity  of  the  machine  is 
increased  and  the  current  maintained  at  standard.  Of  course, 
there  is  a  limit  to  which  the  speed  can  be  reduced,  but  the  com- 
pany claim  a  reduction  of  100  revolutions  in  the  speed  of  the 
armature  will  be  compensated  for  by  the  regulator. 


140 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


The  Waterhouse  dynamo  is  compact   in  form   and   has  long 
bearings  for  the  armature  shaft.     It   is  of  the  closed  circuit 

type,  with  new  improve- 
ments. The  dynamo  con- 
tains less  wire,  and  in 
consequence  less  resistance 
than  some  other  systems. 


WATERHOUSE  LAMP. 


WKSTERN  LAMP. 


THE    Dli-l  KKKNT    SYSTEMS. 


141 


and    with  regulation,  attains   great   efficiency  and  saving  of 
power. 

The  lamp  magnet  is  an  iron  core,  quadrangular  in  shape,  and 
has  the  main  and  shunt  circuit  coils  arranged  at  an  angle  from 
each  other.  The  magnetic  effect  on  the  iron  core,  produced  by 
the  currents  flowing  through  these  circuits,  is  the  novelty  of 
the  invention,  and  new  in  its  application. 

THE  WESTERN. 

The  arc  lamp  of  the  Western  system  differs  in  internal  con- 
struction and  operation  from  that  of  any  other.  The  manu- 
facturers claim  that  undue  complication  is  avoided,  and  the 
working  parts  are  reduced  in  number,  simplified  in  form,  and 
so  arranged  as  to  reduce  the  liability  to  derangement  from 
wear,  corrosion,  dust  or  other  causes,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
secure  regulation  of  arc  resistance  and  current  strength,  thereby 
maintaining  a  steady  and  uniform  light. 


142 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


The  Western  company  also  claim  that  to  the  high  efficiency 
of  their  dynamo  is  due  the  economy  of  the  system.  The  dy- 
namo is  of  compact  pattern,  with  a  specially  constructed  drum 
armature,  composed  of  but  few  parts,  easily  accessible.  From 
the  method  of  winding  the  armature,  economical  results,  with 
any  number  of  lights  are  obtained  ;  destructive  or  damaging 
heat  is  avoided,  and  the  machine  can  be  run  on  short  circuit 
(all  lamps  switched  out)  without  injury.  By  a  simple  move- 
ment of  the  brushes  backward  or  forward,  any  number  of 
lamps,  up  to  the  capacity  of  the  machine,  may  be  run  without 
undue  sparking  at  the  commutator.  This  freedom  from  spark- 
ing, it  is  said,  permits  the  use  of  oil  on  the  commutator,  thus 
reducing  the  wear  to  a  minimum. 

The  field  magnets  are  constructed  with  a  view  to  securing 
a  sealfor  bearings  and  pole  plates  at  the  same  time.  The  bear- 
ings are  plain,  and  the  entire  design  is  simple. 


EDISON    DYNAMO. 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


143 


THE  EDISON. 

The  dynamo  first  constructed  for  the  Edison  municipal  sys- 
tem gives   1,000  volts,  and  is  made  in  two  sizes,   12   and  30 

amperes.  The  present  dynamo 
gives  a  maximum  E.  M.  F.  of 
1,200  volts,  which  allows  for  any 
drop  in  potential  which  may  be 
desirable  up  to  17  per  cent,  in 
the  wire,  while  a  pressure  of 
1,000  volts  is  left  to  be  expended 
in  the  lamps. 

The  lamp  is  of  low  resistance, 
with  thick  substantial  carbon, 
the  length  of  the  loop  determin- 
ing the  candle-power  and  the  E. 
M.  F.  required.  Hence,  as  a  15- 
candle  lamp  has  a  carbon  of  the 
same  cross-section  as  one  of  50 
candles,  it  requires  the  same  cur- 
rent, the  difference  being  simply 
in  the  volts  absorbed.  This  gives 
a  flexibility  to  the  system,  the 
only  requisite  in  calculation  be- 
ing that  the  total  candle  power 
in  each  of  the  various  circuits 
shall  conform  approximately  to 
a  given  standard,  which  stand- 
ard is  found  by  a  determination 
of  the  most  economical  percent- 
age of  loss  in  the  conductor  in 
each  particular  instance. 

The  lamps  require  about  four 
amperes,  and  have  a  higher 
standard  of  efficiency  than  the 
high  resistance  lamps  used  in  .the 
three- wire  system.  Their  life  has 
been  very  long,  reaching  in  some 
cases  from  1,500  to  3,000  hours. 
The  standard  of  distribution  for  this  lamp  is  1,000  candles 
for  each  circuit  of  1,000  volts. 


EDISON    LAMP. 


144 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEMS. 


The  standard  street  hood  has  a  metallic  frame  and  top,  with 
an  inverted  conical  reflector  of  opal  glass.  It  contains  a 
socket  and  cutout  of  simple  construction,  which,  in  case  the 
safety  device  in  the  lamp  itself  should  fail,  operates  to  com- 
plete a  shunt  around  the  terminals,  and  also  to  maintain  the 
continuity  of  the  circuit  when  a  lamp  is  removed. 

An  important  attachment  to  every  hood  when  suspended 
from  posts  in  the  open  air  is  an  insulator  which  makes  it  im- 
possible for  the  wires,  cross-arm  or  frame  to  become  grounded 
at  this  point. 

In  interior  incandescent  lighting,  to  which  the  Edison  com- 
pany has  devoted  much  attention,  the  "  three  wire  "  system  is 
employed.  It  is  claimed  that  this  system  enables  the  company 
to  use  conductors  one-third  the  size  that  would  otherwise  be 
required. 


THE  WESTINGHOUSE. 

The  Westinghouse  alternating  current  system  is 
peculiar  among  the  systems. 

The  first  cut  shown  illustrates  the  arrangement  of 
the  street  light  on  an  iron  pole,  the  converter  being 


generally  placed  at  the  top  of  the  pole  and  the  wires 
led  down  inside. 


THE    DIFFERENT    SYSTEM^. 


145 


a 


The  second  cut 
shows  a  similar  ar- 
rangement with  the 
converter  placed  on  a 
wooden  pole  and  the 
bracket  leading  direct- 
ly from  it. 

Cut  No.  3  shows  the 
street  light  converter 
itself.  It  is  claimed 
for  this  system  that  it 
will  produce  eleven  16 
candle-power  lamps,  or 
their  equivalent  in  25 
candle-power  lamps, 
which  are  the  usual 
street  lights  used. 
Experiments  now  be- 
ing made  are  expected 
to  increase  this  output 
of  candle-power  for  a 
given  electrical  energy 
at  least  50  per  cent., 
and  possibly  80  per 
cent.  The  Westinghouse  company^also  claims  to  have  been 
peculiarly  successful  in  their  form  of  lamp,  which  cannot  be 


146  THE  DIFFERENT  SYSTEMS. 

made  to  depreciate  more  than  one  candle-power  for  the  16  in 
the  full  length  of  its  life,  and  this  depreciation  occurs  mainly 
before  breaking. 


There  are  several  other  systems  of  arc  and  incandescent 
lighting,  but  they  are  not  generally  known  or  have  dropped 
out  of  common  use.  One  occasionally  runs  across  the  name 
of  the  Fuller,  the  Remington,  the  Sperry,  and  this  or  the 
other,  but  as  a  basis  of  information  they  cut  no  figure  what- 
ever. In  purchasing,  the  public  or  private  patron  will  find 
plenty  of  systems  to  examine  without  running  after  unknown 
or  unused  makes. 


S£>aiTeriex*>. 


kLANTE,  the  noted  French  scientist,  was  the  first  to 
demonstrate  the  possibilities  of  the  "  storage  bat- 
tery," or  accumulator.  The  problem  of  how  to  store 
up  for  use  when  required  electrical  energy,  gen- 
erated by  whatever  means,  had  been  discussed  for 
years,  but  the  most  rapid  advancement  of  the  system  has  been 
made  within  a  very  short  time. 

The  introduction  of  storage  batteries  has  made  it  possible  to 
obtain  certain  desirable  results  hitherto  altogether  impracticable. 
A  reservoir  of  electricity  is  made  possible  from  which  light  can 
be  obtained  when  the  power  developing  machinery  has  stopped; 
and  this  reservoir  may  be  located  economically  at  a  great  dis- 
tance from  the  generator.  The  storage  battery  is  the  analogue 
of  the  gasometer  in  gas  lighting,  acting  not  only  as  a  reservoir 
of  power,  but  also  as  a  governor  of  the  current  supplied. 

The  advantages  of  the  accumulator  are  manifest  more  par- 
ticularly in  its  application  to  the  incandescent  form  of  electric 
lamps,  but  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  it  will  play  a  very 
important  part  in  the  arc  systems.  It  affords  the  means  of 
combining  the  two  lights.  The  same  plant  which  supplies  elec- 
trical energy  to  a  given  number  of  arc  lights  (which,  because 
of  their  powerful  character,  are,  as  a  rule,  best  run  by  direct 
current),  will  supply  twice  as  many  more  incandescent  lights 
with  very  little  extra  expense.  The  current  may  be  supplied 
to  the  arc  and  incandescent  lamps  by  separate  wires,  the  direc- 
tion of  the  current  being  controlled  by  switches  at  the  station, 
so  that  the  accumulators  for  the  incandescent  lamps  can  be 
charged  when  the  arc  lights  are  not  in  service.  The  arc  lamps 
for  street  lighting  are  fed  direct  from  the  dynamo,  and  the 
incandescent  lamps  for  house  lighting  by  the  accumulators. 
Each  house  after  its  accumulator  is  charged  is  disconnected 


148  STORAGE    BATTERIES. 

from  the  system,  and  is  therefore  independent  of  all  others.  No 
matter  what  may  occur  to  cause  trouble  with  the  street  lamps, 
its  lights  are  secure.  Should  anything  unforeseen  prevent  the 
perfect  action  of  the  lights  in  any  one  house,  others  are  not 
affected  by  the  disability.  In  the  direct  system  any  derange- 
ment to  the  running  machinery  affects  all  the  lights  in  the 
district. 

There  is  no  danger  of  shocks,  serious  or  otherwise  from  the 
accumulator,  as  the  current  has  not  sufficient  potency  to  over- 
come the  resistance  of  the  body.  In  the  direct  system  there  is 
always  more  or  less  danger. 

An  important  attribute  of  the  storage  battery  is  its  portabil- 
ity. It  may  be  transported  any  distance  without  suffering 
impairment  of  its  working  power.  This  property  confers  upon 
it  distinct  advantages,  opening  up  entirely  new  fields  for  its 
application.  The  direct  system  of  lighting  limits  the  use  of 
the  electric  lamps  to  the  district  over  which  the  wires  extend, 
and  outside  of  this  territory  it  is  not  available.  It  frequently 
occurs  that  a  temporary  electric  light  service  would  be 
desirable  at  points  remote  from  regular  centers  of  distribution. 
Then,  the  storage  battery  may  be  charged  at  the  station,  and 
the  temporary  installation  made  at  any  distance.  Any  quantity 
of  light  desired  may  thus  be  supplied  at  only  a  few  hours'  notice, 
and  the  quality  will  not  vary  from  that  of  lamps  on  the  regular 
circuits. 

Small  municipalities,  desiring  to  light  the  streets  with  arc 
lights  and  the  public  buildings  with  incandescent  lights,  may 
profitably  examine  this  system. 

The  batteries  are  composed  of  a  number  of  cells  containing 
cast  lead  plates  of  a  peculiar  construction,  chemically  prepared, 
and  immersed  in  a  solution  of  sulphuric  acid.  These  cells  may 
be  connected  together  so  as  to  produce  any  desired  result  in 
current  or  pressure.  When  placed  in  a  circuit  with  a  dynamo 
machine,  the  electricity  generated  is  accumulated  in  the  battery 
and  may  be  used  at  pleasure.  A  large  number  of  these  bat- 
teries can  be  placed  in  one  circuit,  and  be  supplied  with  elec- 
tricity from  one  generator. 

Where  dynamo  machines  have  already  been  provided  for 
running  arc  lights,  they  can  be  used  at  any  time  when  not  re- 
quired for  the  arc  lights  to  charge  the  storage  batteries. 


STORAGE    BATTERIES. 


149 


An  automatic  current  manipulator  or  switch  is  provided  with 
each  battery,  and  is  so  arranged  as  to  retain  the  battery  in  cir- 
cuit until  it  is  fully  charged,  and  then  disconnect  it  from  the 
circuit.  When  the  charge  has  been  exhausted  down  to  a  cer- 
tain point,  it  brings  it  into  circuit  again  and  holds  it  till  it  has 
been  recharged,  and  then  cuts  it  out  as  before.  The  same  oper- 
ation is  repeated  with  every  battery  in  circuit.  The  entire 
operation  is  automatic.  Each  battery  has  a  meter  attached, 
which  registers  the  exact  amount  of  electricity  stored. 


j?  fei 


HERE  are  three  methods  of  street  illumination  in 
vogue  in  this  country — gas,  oil  and  electricity. 
These  are  susceptible  of  sub-division,  as,  gas  into 
manufactured  and  natural;  oil  into  kerosene,  naptha 
and  gasoline;  electricity  into  arc  and  incandescent. 

Manufactured  gas  is  used  exclusively  in  many  places  where 
long  contracts  have  not  expired,  or  where  the  authorities  have 
not  been  sufficiently  enterprising  to  adopt-  electricity,  or  have 
been  unduly  prejudiced  against  it.  Natural  gas  is,  of  course, 
in  use  only  where  the  circumstances  of  location  make  it  avail- 
able, and  the  country  contiguous  thereto.  It  is  not  a  good 
illuminant  on  account  of  the  intense  heat  which  it  emits. 

Oil  is  generally  in  use  in  small  places  where  the  establish- 
ment of  gas  works  would  be  unprofitable,  or  the  rays  of  elec- 
tricity have  not  penetrated.  In  many  of  the  large  cities  oils 
are  still  in  use  in  the  outlying  portions. 

Electricity  has  come  to  be  recognized  as  the  successor  of  all 
these  out-door  illurninants,  and  its  fight  for  place  has  not  been 
to  any  degree  more  earnest  than  has  the  battle  between  arc  and 
incandescent  lighting.  The  former  is  the  better  intrenched, 
because  it  antedated  the  latter,  but  the  progress  made  by  "the 
incandescent  light  has  reached  that  point  where  it  now  unre- 
servedly asserts  itself  as  a  competitor,  and  municipalities 
should  in  the  future  consider  both  in  their  discussions.  Here- 
tofore the  incandescent  lamp  has  been  regarded  more  as  an 
interior  light,  and  its  chief  competitor  was  gas. 

The  entire  question  of  street  lighting,  aside  from  the  various 
considerations  entering  into  the  adoption  of  any  system,  is  one 
of  the  distribution  of  light.  The  advocates  of  the  arc  light, 
the  multiple  arc  and  the  incandescent  will  each  aver  that  his 


niSTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT.  151 

particular  system  will  give  the  best  distribution,  and  he  will 
be  prepared  to  prove  it.  It  will  resolve  itself  in  the  mind  of 
the  average  layman  like  he  who  "  could  be  happy  with  either 
were  t'other  dear  charmer  away." 

In  considering  the  distribution  of  light  one  should  not  com- 
pute the  total  candle  power  of  a  given  territory,  and  raise  or 
lower  the  lamps  until  an  equal  distribution  of  the  light  is  ob- 
tained. There  will  be  alternate  dark  arid  light  spots  in  that 
case.  The  property  owner  living  in  the  center  of  a  block  is 
as  much  entitled  to  light  as  he  who  lives  on  or  near  the  corner. 
The  effect  of  light  on  crime  will  not  be  so  perceptible  if  the 
alleys  and  back-yards  are  neglected.  To  get  an  equal  distri- 
bution of  light  the  city  should  first  determine  where  it  wants 
light  and  should  then  study  the  different  systems  as  a  means  of 
putting  it  there.  As  someone  has  said,  "the  experience  of 
practical  users  is  more  valuable  in  enabling  one  to  determine 
what  to  buy,  than  scientific  tests  or  anybody's  guarantee." 
The  attention  of  the  reader  is  therefore  called  to  that  which 
here  follows. 

Three  methods  of  placing  arc  lamps  for  street  lighting  are 
extensively  used.  These  are: — 

First. — Placing  lamps  upon  poles. 

Second. — Placing  lamps  over  intersection  of  streets. 

Third. — Placing  lamps  upon  towers. 

The  first  method,  that  of  placing  lamps  upon  poles,  has  but 
one  advantage — cheapness  of  first  cost — while  it  has  many  dis- 
advantages; mainly  from  the  fact  that  the  pole  can  be  placed 
upon  one  side  of  the  street  only,  the  light  is  unequally  distrib- 
uted, and,  where  shade  trees  exist,  only  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street  can  be  lighted.  A  serious  disadvantage,  and  one  that 
deserves  more  attention  than  it  receives,  is  the  cost  of  carbon 
trimming.  The  trimmer  requires  time  to  climb  to  the  lamp, 
and  time  is  money  and  climbing  dangerous.  It  will,  therefore, 
be  seen  that,  while  the  first  cost  is  much  cheaper,  in  the  end, 
pole  lighting  costs  more  money  than  any  other. 

In  some  places  where  pole  lights  are  in  use  the  lamps  are 
simply  stuck  upon  crooked  and  ill-shaped  wooden  poles,  giving 
an  appearance  of  shiftlessness  that  speaks  ill  of  the  system 
and  of  the  company  that  puts  such  unsightly  objects  on  the 
streets.  The  cut  of  a  street-light  here  shown  illustrates  how 


152 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


a  pole  light  can  be  placed  neatly,  and  with  but  a  slight  addi- 
tional cost  over  the  slip-shod  method  referred  to. 

The  second  method,  that  of  placing  lamps  over  the  intersec- 
tions of  streets,  is  the  best  method  when  low  arc  lighting  is 
desired.  It  has  many  decided  advantages  over  the  pole  method. 

By  placing  a  lamp  over 
the  intersection  of  streets, 
you  place  the  lamp  where 
it  can  do  the  most  possible 
good,  as  it  can  light  the 
streets  equally  in  four 
directions  a  distance  of 
about  400  feet  radius  of 
the  lamp.  The  lamp  is 
far  enough  away  from 
shade  trees  to  allow  its 
rays  to  penetrate  under- 
neath them  and  thorough- 
ly light  the  sidewalk. 
Lamps  should  be  at  least 
thirty-five,  feet  from  the 
surface  of  the  street. 

There  are  four  ways  by 
which  lamps  can  be  placed 
in  this  position.  One  is 
to  erect  two  poles  upon 
diagonally  opposite  cor- 
ners of  the  street,  and 
connect  them  at  the  top 
with  a  twisted  wire  cable. 
The  lamp  is  hung  on  a 
pulley  on  the  center  of 
this  cable;  a  line  is  at- 
tached and  the  lamp  is 
drawn  in  to  the  top  of  the  pole  for  trimming. 

Another  method  is  that  of  an  iron  pulley  fastened  to  the 
center  of  a  cable,  the  lamp  being  lowered  to  the  center  of  the 
street.  During  the  extremely  cold  weather  of  winter,  the 
cables  and  cords  are  liable  to  become  coated  with  ice  and  the 
apparatus  fail  to  work. 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LKiHT. 


153 


LAMP  LOWERED  FOR 
TRIMMING. 


Another  device  for 
placing  the  lamps  in  this 
position  is  to  build  an 
iron  arch  over  the  street 
from  diagonally  opposite 
corners.  The  lamp  is 
placed  upon  the  top  and 
center  of  the  arch;  which 
may  be  firmly  guyed  in 
several  directions.  The 
trimmer  reaches  the  lamp 
by  creeping  on  all  fours 
over  the  arch,  which  re- 
sembles a  ladder  bent 
in  semi-circular  form — a 
method  that  is  seldom 
used — or  the  lamp  is  low- 
ered and  taken  out  of 
circuit. 

Another  device  for  in- 
tersection lighting  is  that 
known  as  the  mast-arm. 
It  consists  of  a  trussed 
iron  arm  attached  by 
means  of  iron  brackets  to 
a  wooden  or  iron  mast. 
The  arm  is  confined  to 
journals  on  brackets 
placed  near  the  mast.  On  top  of  the  mast 
is  an  iron  rest  for  arm  when  in  horizontal 
position.  At  the  inner  end  of  the  arm  is 
secured  the  weight  necessary  to  counter- 
balance the  weight  of  the  lamp  at  the  oppo- 
Lsite  end.  By  having  the  fulcrum  on  the 
brackets  instead  of  on  the  pole,  the  counter- 
weight is  materially  reduced.  The  lamp  can 
be  lowered  to  the  curb  of  the  sidewalk  at 


MAST- ARM  IN  POSITION. 


154 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


any  time  for  attendance,  whether  in  use  or  not.  In  some  cases 
the  circuit  is  opened,  in  others  it  is  not.  Scarcely  any  exertion 
is  required  on  the  part  of  the  attendant,  as  the  lamp  is  so 
balanced,  being  slightly  heavier  than  the  opposite  end,  as  to 
descend  slowly,  and  a  slight  strain  on  the  wire  line  fastened  to 
the  inner  end  of  the  arm  will  raise  it  again  in  position.  An 
attendant  can  trim  double  the  number  of  lamps  placed  on 
mast  arms  than  is  possible  to  do  in  the  same  time,  when  lamps 
are  placed  on  any  of  the  other  devices. 

Some  mast  arms  may  be  adjusted  to  vary  the  height  of  the 
lamp  from  the  ground.  The  lever  bar  for  raising  and  lowering 
the  lamp  to  within  five  feet  of  the  ground,  also  acts  as  a  brace 
to  steady  the  frame.  They  extend  the  lamp  22  to  28  feet  from 
the  street  corner.  Mast  arms  can  be  used  under  any  line  of 
telephone  or  telegraph  wires  with  twenty  inches  of  space  above. 
They  will  not  freeze  up  in  sleety  or  snowy  weather.  No  step 
ladders  or  windlass  are  used. 

Below  will  be  found  a  diagram  showing  a  popular  method 
employed  in  stringing  intersection  lamps  : 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


155 


Lamps  average  750  feet  apart.  At  the  corner  where  there  is 
no  lamp  there  is  light  sufficient. 

Where  lights  are  designed  to  be  suspended  over  sidewalks 
a  hanger,  such  as  is  here  shown,  will  commend  itself  at  once  to 


those  who  have  had  experience  with  fixed  cranes,  as  it  enables 
the  trimmer  to  attend  to  the  lamp  without  the  use  of  a  step- 
ladder. 


156 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


This  convenience  of  access  also  insures  a  more  prompt  and 
satisfactory  correction  of  any  fault  in   the   operation   of  the 

lamp  when  the  step-ladder 
is  apt  to  be  at  the  other  end 
of  town. 

A  hanger  does  away  with  the 
objectionable  loop,  which  is 
both  unsightly  and  unsafe  ; 
takes  the  strain  off  the  rope  ; 
tests  the  strength  every  time 
a  lamp  is  lowered  ;  the  lamp 
swings  to  the  inside  of  the 
walk  for  trimming;  the  lamp 
cannot  drop.  A  short  chain 
from  the  upper  to  the  lower 
arm  limits  the  distance  the 
lamp  will  lower;  a  spring  up- 
on the  catch  makes  its  move- 
ments positive. 

It  consists  of  two  rods  or 
arms,  the  upper  one  fixed  per- 
manently to  the  building;  the 
lower  hinged  to  the  former 
at  a  point  near  the  building, 
carries  the  wires  leading  to 
the  lamp  on  insulators.  When 
the  lamp  is  up,  the  catch  effec- 
tually fastens  the  lower  to  the 
upper  arm,  from  which  posi- 
tion it  can  only  be  lowered  by 
pulling  upon  the  main  rope 
first,  and  while  this  is  held 
strained,  tripping  the  catch 
by  means  of  the  second  line. 
For  street  service,  where 
lights  are  suspended  from 
poles,  a  form  of  this  hanger 
possesses  decided,  advantages  over  any  means  of  lamp  sus- 
pension. The  light  may  be  suspended  at  any  required  distance 
from  the  pole,  and  at  any  necessary  height  above  the  sidewalk 
or  roadway. 


ADAMS  TOWER. 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT.  157 


TOWER    LIGHTING. 

The  third  method,  placing  lamps  upon  towers,  is  considered 
the  best  for  lighting  large  areas  with  a  comparatively  small 
number  of  lights. 

Detroit  is  the  only  large  city  in  the  world  lighted  wholly  by 
the  tower  system.  The  city  limits  comprise  about  21  square 
miles,  the  whole  of  which  is  thus  lighted.  There  are  122 
towers  of  153  feet  each. 

Detroit  has  about  230,000  inhabitants,  and  has  a  dense  busi- 
ness section  of  about  one  square  mile.  This  section  has  about 
twenty  towers,  which  average  1,000  to  1,200  feet  apart  ;  the 
belt  immediately  contiguous,  embracing  the  closely-built  and 
densely  shaded  residence  section  has  its  towers  about  2,000 
feet  apart.  Beyond  this  the  spaces  widen  to  2,500  feet  apart, 
and  in  the  suburbs  they  are  spaced  about  2,500  to  3,000  feet 
apart. 

The  press  of  the  country  has  uniformly  conceded  the  city  to 
be  the  best-lighted  of  any  in  the  world.  All  its  streets,  yards, 
alleys,  back -yards  and  grounds  are  illuminated  as  effectually  as 
by  the  full  moon  at  the  zenith.  The  blending  of  light  from  the 
mass  of  towers  serves  to  prevent  dense  shadows. 

A  comparison  of  the  cost  to  the  city  of  lighting  by  electricity 
with  the  former  cost  of  lighting  by  gas,  presents  interesting 
features.  The  entire  space  formerly  lighted  by  gas  and  naph- 
tha, aggregated  less  than  7^. square  miles,  with  many  streets 
inside  that  area  not  lighted  at  all.  Now  the  area  lighted  is,  as 
stated,  21  square  miles. 

With  gas  to  the  city  on  the  basis  of  $1.25  per  thousand  feet, 
the  last  gas  estimate  for  the  seven  and  one-half  square  miles 
was  $104,300.  The  amount  paid  the  past  year  for  lighting  21 
square  miles  by  the  tower  system  was  about  $112,000. 

Again,  the  relative  expense  of  electric  lighting  by  tow- 
ers as  compared  with  lighting  a  similar  area  by  pole  lights, 
may  be  seen.  In  1885  the  city  called  for  bids  on  both  bases 
of  lighting — the  exponents  of  each  system  submitting  their  own 
specifications  of  what  would  be  required.  The  specification  for 
pole  lights  indicated  the  necessity  for  poles  not  more  than  400 
feet  apart  on  each  street.  This,  in  Detroit,  would  require 
about  2,600  for  the  city,  now  covered  by  the  towers.  The 
tower  lights  are  burned  from  dusk  to  daylight  every  night  in 


158  DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 

the  year.  The  same  service  from  2,600  pole  lights,  at  35  cents 
per  night,  would  amount  to  $910  per  night,  or  $332,150  per 
year. 

It  would  appear,  therefore,  that  for  a  city,  or  town,  propos- 
ing to  do  its  own  lighting,  the  tower  system  will  enable  it 
to  cover  the  largest  space  with  the  least  outlay,  and  that  for  a 
company  proposing  to  do  public  lighting,  the  tower  system  en- 
ables it  to  bid  for  lighting  at  a  figure  much  below  any  com- 
petitor seeking  to  cover  the  same  space,  either  by  electric  pole- 
lights,  or  by  gas  and  naphtha. 

Lighting  by  the  tower  system  is  assuming  great  prominence, 
and  merits  the  calm  and  thoughtful  consideration  of  all  interest- 
ed in  the  subject  of  public  lighting.  It  is  the  only  system  thus 
far  presented  which  affords  a  thoroughly  practical  illumination 
of  all  spaces  at  a  figure  below  the  cost  of  gas  -or  naphtha,  as 
the  latter  is  usually  employed  for  quite  inadequately  light- 
ing the  streets  alone. 

Towers  have  been  in  use  eight  years  in  various  parts  of 
the  United  States  for  electric  lighting.  Anything  that  will 
lessen  the  expense  of  operating  an  electric  light  plant  com- 
mands the  attention  of  all  interested  in  the  subject.  It  is 
claimed  for  the  tower  system  of  lighting,  that  a  city  contract 
can  be  undertaken  with  less  money  at  the  outset  and  operated 
afterwards  with  less  expense  than  can  be  done  by  any  other 
method. 

The  construction  of  towers  has  been  subject  to  gradual 
change  and  development.  At  the  outset  a  square  pyramidal 
tower  was  most  used,  made  with  inclined  posts  at  the  corners 
united  by  horizontal  struts  and  braced  both  in  the  plane  of  the 
sides  and  horizontally.  These  horizontal  braces  prevented  the 
ready  arrangement  and  operation  of  an  interior  elevator,  so 
resort  was  had  to  a  triangular  tower  similarly  braced  on  its 
exterior  faces,  but  requiring  no  interior  bracing.  This  left 
free  space  for  an  elevator,  but,  in  order  to  insure  strength,  the 
tower  was  tapered  from  the  top  to  the  base,  so  that,  with  an 
altitude  of  150  feet,  the  spread  at  the  base  was  about  28  feet. 
This  formed  no  objection  where  the  tower  could  be  located 
in  a  park  or  unoccupied  public  square,  but  where  they  had  to 
be  located  at  street  corners,  it  was  found  necessary  to  have 
them  span  the  street  or  side-walk,  so  that  one  corner  of  the 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


tower  might  rest 
near  the  corner  of 
the  street,  and  the 
two  other  corners 
rest  adjacent  to  the 
buildings,  and  thus 
be  in  the  way. 

The  development 
and  improvement  of 
pyramidal  and  other 
forms  of  tower  grad- 
ually led  to  those 
used  in  Detroit. 
These  are  essentially 
triangular  prisms, 
six  feet  on  a  side, 
built  in  vertical  sec- 
tions, each  eight  and 
one-half  feet  long, 
supported  on  a 
single  base  column 
and  guyed  at  two 
points.  The  center 
lengths  of  all  sec- 
tions are  equal,  and 
members  to  a  con- 
siderable degree  in- 
terchangeable. They  - 
are  located  general- 
ly just  inside  the 
angle  of  the  curb  at 
a  street  corner. 

The  foundation  is 
three  feet  square  at 


159 

top  and  base,  and 
six  feet  in  depth  be- 
low the  top  of  the 
cap-stone;  is  made 
of  brick  set  in  a 
mortar  of  hydraulic 
cement  and  coarse 
sand.  At  the  base 
is  an  oak  grill  of 
two-inch  plank  laid 
cross- wise;  the  ma- 
sonry is  surmounted 
by  a  cap-stone  three 
feet  by  three  feet 
by  six  inches.  Six 
bolts  of  one  and  one- 
eighth  inch  iron  are 
headed  beneath  a 
large  iron  washer 
below  the  grill,  pass 
up  through  the  ma- 
sonry and  cap-stone 
and  through  the 
malleable  iron  cast- 
ing secured  to  the 
base  of  the  pillar. 

The  guy  posts  are 
of  oak  or  other  hard 
wood,  sawed  square 
and  butted  :  are 
fourteen  inches 
square  and  fifteen 
feet  long,  dressed 
above  the  ground, 


"STAB"  IRON  TOWER. 


160 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


the  corners  trimmed  off  and  terminated  at  the  top  in  a  blunt, 
octagonal  point.  They  are  set  vertically  six  feet  in  and  nine 
feet  out  of  the  ground,  at  a  distance  about  the  length  of  the 

tower  from  its  base,  and 
usually  just  inside  the  curb 
line.  Each  has  two  eye-bolts 
about  one  foot  below  the 
apex  for  reception  of  two 
guy  cables.  The  guy  posts 
are  tinned  for  about  three 
feet,  to  prevent  gnawing  by 
horses. 

The  tower  is  made  of  lap- 
weld  tubing  and  wrought 
iron  brace  rods.  All  cast- 
ings are  of  malleable  iron. 
At  the  base  is  a  single  pillar 
of  seven-inch  wrought  iron 
tubing,  fourteen  feet  high. 
This  supports  the  shaft  of 
the  tower.  The  latter  is 
composed  of  three  corner 
elements,  in  vertical  sections 
of  eight  and  one-half  feet, 
united  by  horizontal  girts 
and  strongly  braced  by  dia- 
gonal brace  rods.  The  tower 
is  triangular,  in  cross  sec- 
tion, and  of  the  same  dimen- 
sions from  top  to  base — i.  e., 
six  feet  on  each  face.  At 
the  base  the  corner  elements 
are  of  two-inch  pipe,  the  six 
upper  sections  being  of  one 
and  one-half  inch  pipe.  At 
the  top  is  a  grating  platform 

INDIANAPOLIS   TOWEE.  and  iron  railing.     The  tow- 

ers  have  interior  elevators, 

whereby  the  attendant  may  ascend  to  the  top  to  care  for  his 
lamps.     The  elevator — of  iron — forms  a  link  in  a  continuous 


DISTRIBUTION    OF   LIGHT. 


161 


DETROIT    TOWER. 


wire  cable,  passing  over  a  sheave  wheel 
at  top  and  bottom,  and  a  heavy  weight 
is  connected  into  the  cable,  in  proper 
position,  to  nearly  counterpoise  the  ele- 
vator and  its  load.  The  towers  have 
two  sets  of  four  one-half  inch  galvan- 
ized wire  cable  guys.  One  set  leads 
from  a  point  sixteen  feet  below  the  up- 
per platform.  The  other  from  a  point 
a  few  sections  lower. 

The  towers  are  erected  by  first  put- 
ting together  the  top  section,  then 
hoisting  up  and  building  on  the  next 
beneath  it  and  so  on  until  completed. 
The  weight  of  a  complete  tower,  ele- 
vator, etc.,  including  guy  ropes,  is 
about  7,200  pounds.  The  entire  wind 
surface,  including  lamps,  hoods  and 
mechanism,  is  calculated  at  eighty-three 
square  feet,  but  this  should  probably 
be  increased  fifty  per  cent,  for  oblique 
and  indirect  exposure. 

In  the  matter  of  the  proper  height, 
150  feet  is  the  most  satisfactory.  In- 
creasing this  height  impairs  the  illumin- 
ation near  the  foot  and  does  not 
perceptibly  increase  the  total  lighted 
area,  while  diminishing  this  height 
diminishes  the  illuminated  area  and 
affords  unnecessary  brilliancy  at  the 
base. 

The  towers  should,  so  far  as  practic- 
able, be  arranged  in  a  triangular  sys- 
tem. The  distance  apart  in  business 
sections  may  be  1,200  to  1,500  feet;  in 
the  best  residence  sections,  §uch,  for 
instance,  as  may  be  found  at  a  distance 
of  half  to  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  business  centre,  and  a  greater  dis,- 
tance  in  the  large  cities,  the  towers 


162  DISTRIBUTION    OF   LIGHT. 

may  be  2,000  feet  apart,  and  in  the  less  densely  populated  sec- 
tions and  suburbs,  they  may  be  2,500  to  3,000  feet  apart. 

Towns  of  three  to  six  thousand  inhabitants,  occupying,  say, 
a  square  mile  of  space,  which  determine  to  use  towers,  may  be 
lighted  in  every  quarter  by  seven  towers,  one  at  the  center  and 
six  at  the  angles  of  a  hexagon,  the  towers  being  2,000  feet 
apart. 

So,  also,  illumination  may  be  had  by  five  towers,  there  being 
one  at  the  center  and  four  at  the  angles  of  a  square,  the  towers 
being  2,000  feet  from  the  middle  tower,  and  where  greater 
economy  is  desirable  there  might  be  four  towers,  one  at  the 
center  and  one  at  each  of  the  angles  of  a  triangle  and  about 
2,000  feet  from  the  center  tower. 

Cities  of  from  6,000  to  20,000  would  require  from  eight  to 
fifteen  towers;  from  20,000  to  50,000  from  fifteen  to  forty; 
from  50,000  to  100,000,  from  forty  to  one  hundred  ;  from 
100,000  to  200,000,  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty; 
from  200,000  up,  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred. 

In  all  cases  it  is  recommended  that  the  towers  should  have 
at  least  four  lights  of  2,000  candle-power  each.  The  central 
towers  might  have  six  lights.  More  lights  will  improve  the 
effect  at  a  distance  from  the  tower,  while  a  less  number  of 
lights  will  scarcely  afford  illumination  sufiicient  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  tower. 

The  question  of  the  efficiency  of  tower  lighting  has  been 
before  many  Boards  of  Aldermen,  and  will  doubtless  be  brought 
before  many  more.  As  it  is  the  one  distinctive  method  opposed 
to  all  low  lighting,  information  upon  its  merits  or  its  demerits 
is  valuable,  therefore  considerable  space  is  given  to  official 
statements  concerning  it.  The  opinions  following  are  from 
cities  where  towers  are  or  have  been  in  use: — 

From  the  council  committee  of  Flint,  Mich: 

"Our  reasons  for  preferring  the  tower  system,  are: 
"First — We  are  fully  convinced  that  this  is  a  system  by  which 
not  only  the  streets,  but  the  alleys,  railroad  crossings,  depots, 
bridges,  and  even  private  grounds,  are  equally  well  lighted. 

"Second — That  after  a  tower  is  once  located,  the  light  there- 
from will  successfully  illuminate  an  area  of  2,000  ^eet  each 
way,  and  it  matters  not  how  many  streets  are  opened,  or  houses 
"built  within  this  district,  the  light  covers  the  entire  space. 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT.  163 

"  Third—  We  believe  that  the  real  estate  lying  in  unlighted 
portions  of  the  city,  and  looked  upon  as  glooomy  and  undesir- 
able, will  be  greatly  enhanced  in  value  when  brought  within 
the  raclius  of  this  brilliant  and  far-reaching  light. 

"Fourth — We  believe  that  in  rendering  our  streets  safe  to 
all  who  traverse  them  at  night;  in  largely  preventing  crime  of 
every  kind;  in  aiding  us  to  attain  that  degree  of  peace  and 
quiet  which  commends  itself  to  every  order-loving  citizen,  the 
benefits  of  this  system  of  light  can  hardly  be  estimated. 

"  iMxtly — We  claim  for  it  that  it  may  be  justly  called  the 
poor  man's  light,  for,  by  reason  of  its  penetrating  and  far- 
reaching  rays,  the  suburbs  of  the  city  will  be  equally  well 
lighted  with  the  more  central  portions,  and  instead  of  the 
feeble  flicker  of  the  gasoline  lamps,  a  clear  and  brilliant  light 
will  penetrate  the  most  distant  residence  parts  of  the  city." 

From  H.  L.  MACY,  Auditor  of  Fargo,  Dak: 

"I  believe  the  people  are  well  satisfied  with  the  tower  sy§- 
tem." 

From  the  Fargo  Argus: 

"There  is,  there  can  be  but  one  opinion  in  regard  to  it.  The 
experiment  is  a  complete  and  grand  success." 

From  D.  F.  BARCLAY,  ex-Mayor  of  Elgin,  111. : 
"Our  people  are  well  pleased  with  the  towers." 

From  the  Elgin  News: 

"The  electric  illumination  of  our  city  by  the  tower  route  is  a 
success,  as  we  had  hoped  it  would  be.  It  was  a  good  success 
under  the  clear  and  tranquil  sky.  It  was  a  better  success  still 
in  the  clouds  and  storm.  The  satisfaction  is  general." 

From  J.  R.  TREADWAY, City  Clerk  of  Denver,  Col: 

"We  "have  seven  towers  now  in  use,  but  we  are  getting  rid 
of  them  as  fast  as  the  contracts  expire.  *  *  *  We  find 
the  corner  street  incandescent  lights  preferable  to  towers." 

From  E.  DELANY,  JR.,  City  Clerk  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis: 

"The  towers  have  been  in  use  here  for  the  last  five  years. 
The  people  in  the  outlying  districts,  who  have  no  other  light, 
are  well  pleased  with  the  tower  system,  although  the  towers 
are  centrally  located.  If  the  city  did  not  have  the  towers,  it 
would  probably  not  go  to  the  expense  of  erecting  them." 


164  DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 

From  THOMAS  J.  STEVENS,  City  Recorder,  Ogden,  Utah: 

"The  tower  system  of  electric  lighting  was  tried  here  several 
years  ago,  and  discarded  as  being  a  complete  failure.  It  is  a 
bad  system  of  street  lighting,  being  impossible  to  erect  a  tower 
high  enough  to  throw  the  light  into  the  streets  uniformly.  One 
side  of  the  street  will  be  shaded  by  the  buildings,  which  pro- 
duces an  intense  darkness  (when  contrasted  by  the  light  on  the 
opposite  side),  which  is  very  disagreeable.  Our  city  is  now 
lighted  by  electric  lamps  placed  in  the  center  of  the  street  * 
*  *  In  the  business  portion  the  lamps  are  about  675  feet 
.apart,  while  outside  of  the  business  blocks,  they  are  two  or 
three  times  that  distance  apart.  Our  present  system'  gives 
good  satisfaction." 

From  NEWTON  FORD,  City  Clerk  of  Akron,  Ohio: 

"In  1880,  we  put  up  two  towers,  Brush  system,  which  lighted 
the  central  portion  of  the  city.  They  were  owned,  as  were  all 
the  plant,  by  the  city.  In  the  spring  of  1883,  a  local  Brush 
company  started  here  and  a  contract  was  made  with  them  to 
run  our  plant  for  us  in  connection  with  their  own.  In  1885, 
we  desired  to  extend  our  electric  lights  and  advertised  for  bids. 
Two  local  companies — the  Brush  and  Thomson-Houston — bid, 
and  as  the  latter  was  only  one-half  the  former,  we  accepted  their 
bid  and  made  the  change.  In  a  few  months,  after  they  had  tried, 
in  vain,  to  make  our  old  Brush  plant  work,  we  discarded  it, 
took  down  the  masts,  and  now  only  use  intersection  lamps. 
Our  experience  is  against  the  tower  system  arid  against  the 
tower  light.  I  would  think  it  advisable  for  the  city  to  own 
their  own  plant,  as  they  would  thereby  secure  cheaper  and  bet- 
ter service.  Were  the  town  level,  and  the  streets  straight  and 
at  right  angles,  with  few  shade  trees,  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  the  tower  system  might  be  available." 

From  CHARLES  E.  DUSTIN,  of  Danbury,  Conn: 

"  The  electric  light  company  at  Danbury  have  now  in  use 
four  towers.  The  general  impression  is  that  they  are  a  grand 
success,  and  at  a  city  meeting  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  con- 
tinue them  in  use.  Danbury  is  a  hilly  place,  and  the  towers  are 
so  placed  that  the  light  is  very  greatly  diffused.  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  introduction  of  double  the  number  of  lights  would  give 
such  general  satisfaction  as  those  on  the  towers." 

From  F.  A.  BURKE,  City  Clerk  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa: 

"The  light  is  certainly  an  improvement  on  the  gas  lamps. 
When  there  is  no  moon  at  points  about  equi-distant  from  the 
towers  the  light  is  about  the  same  that  would  be  expected  from 
a  half  moon.  You  can  notice  the  removal  of  a  brick,  stone  or 
plank  on  the  sidewalk,  as  you  walk  along.  Still  there  are 
people  who  complain  that  the  light  is  not  sufficiently  bright." 


1'iviRinrTioN   <>F   I.M;IIT.  165 

From  the  Tipton,  Iowa,  Conservative: 

"While  not  so  bright  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  towers, 
on  account  of  the  increased  height,  the  lamps  give  a  much 
stronger  light  in  the  outskirts  of  town  than  was  afforded  by 
the  lamps  on  the  court  house." 

From  JAMES  H.  FOSTER,  City  Auditor,  of  Evansville,  Ind: 

«  *  *  *  i  have  no  hesitancy  in  saying  that  of  the  three 
systems  in  use,  the  arches  are  far  the  best  and  most  satisfac- 
tory." 

From  the  Evansville  Courier: 

"In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  towers  the  light  is  very 
brilliant,  and  the  shadows  formed  are  very  sharply  defined. 
As  you  go  from  the  light  toward  a  shadow,  it  appears  to  be 
dark  beyond;  but,  on  arriving  at  the  shadow,  the  light  is  still 
perfect,  though  not  so  strong.  The  light  produced  is  unques- 
tionably the  most  perfect  imitation  of  sunlight  ever  produced 
by  human  skill.  The  difference  in  the  two  systems,  tower  and 
arch,  was  plainly  visible  last  night.  As  the  light  in  its  inten- 
sity and  power,  like  that  of  the  sun  acting  upon  the  unpro- 
tected eyes,  is  painful  to  a  steady  gaze,  the  advantage  of  an 
elevated  system  is  at  once  seen.  The  arch  light  is  somewhat 
modified  by  the  use  of  shades,  but  the  effect  is  produced  at  a 
reduced  percentage  of  light;  the  result  being  an  excessive  illu- 
mination in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  lamps,  and  a  less  per- 
fect illumination  a  short  distance  from  them." 

From  ex-Mayor  L.  T.  DICKASOX,  of  Danville,  111. : 

"After  a  use  for  about  four  years  of  the  tower  and  mast- 
arm  system  for  lighting  the  streets  of  our  city  with  the  electric 
light,  I  can  cordially  recommend  it  for  doing  all  that  is  claimed 
for  it.  The  *  *  tower  system  gives  the  most  perfect 

satisfaction,  and  we  all  feel  proud  that  our  little  city  is  one  of 
the  best  lighted  in  the  whole  country.  Public  opinion  is  unani- 
mous in  its  favor." 

From  a  committee  of  the  Bay  City,  Mich.,  council: 

"We  also  find  the  system  of  mast-arms,  projecting  over  the 
street  from  forty  feet  poles,  a  great  improvement  over  the  or- 
dinary pole  system.  By  suspending  the  light  in  the  center  of 
the  street  by  means  of  the  mast-arm,  the  light  is  clear  from  the 
foliage  and  all  obstructions,  and  the  streets  can  be  lighted  to 
much  better  advantage.  We  think  that  the  tower  system 
should  be  used  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  where  the  buildings 
are  not  of  such  a  height  as  to  obstruct  the  light  and  prevent  a 
free  distribution;  the  mast-arms  being  probably  more  advan- 


166  DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 

tageous  where  the  buildings  are  higher  and  more  numerous. 
We  are  of  the  opinion,  by  actual  observation,  that  Bay  City 
should  be  lighted  equally  as  well  by  the  tower  and  mast-arm 
system,  with  from  15  to  25  per  cent,  less  lamps,  than  by  the 
present  method  [poles.]" 

From  Controller  WM.  BINDER,  of  Saginaw,  Mich.: 

"The  light  encountered  heavy  opposition  in  the  beginning; 
are  much  satisfied  now,  particularly  with  the  towers,  where 
buildings  are  low,  and  mast-arms  will  give  light  about  300-400 
feet  radius.  I  should  never  use  towers  in  thickly-settled  parts, 
where  streets  are  all  built  up  on  both  sides  with  high  buildings; 
even  three-story  buildings  appear  to  destroy  the  effect  of  light 
sideways.  Towers  do  well  in  wide  streets,  and  will  range  1,600- 
2,000  feet  each  side." 

From  E.  C,  HEBR,  Goshen,  Ind. : 
"Goshen  is  well  satisfied  with  the  towers." 

From  ROBERT  KOEHLER,  City  Clerk  of  Rock  Island,  111. : 

"Under  our  first  contract,  the  city  was  lighted  by  eleven 
towers,  of  two  lamps  each.  The  service  was  not  quite  satis- 
factory, and  in  the  new  contract  mast-arms  are  introduced." 

From  the  Republican  and  Leader,  La  Crosse,  Wis. : 

"The  general  opinion  is  that  there  is  nothing  like  it;  that  it 
does  all  that  was  claimed  for  it,  and  more,  too,  and  that  it  is, 
in  every  sense,  a  success  and  a  good  investment  for  the  city. 
Members  of  the  Council,,  prominent  tax-payers  and  business 
men,  have  expressed  their  satisfaction  with  the  result.  Many 
experiments  have  been  tried  to  test  the  strength  of  the  light, 
such-  as  telling  the  time  on  a  watch  dial  several  blocks  from  a 
tower,  or  reading  a  newspaper,  etc." 

From  the  Decatur,  111.,  Journal: 

"The  advantage  of  high  over  low  light  in  penetrating  behind 
buildings  and  trees  will  be  recognized  by  all.  Back  yards  and 
side  alleys  are  illuminated  as  well  as  front  lawns  and  prominent 

streets." 

From  H.  A.  BLUE,  City  Clerk  of  Macon,  Ga. : 
"The  city  is  very  well  pleased  with  the  towers." 

From  J.  C.  WHEELER,  City  Engineer  of  Macon: 

"The  towers  give  good  satisfaction.  We  need  more  of 
them." 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT.  167 

From  W.  A.  KIBBY,  of  Jacksonville,  111.: 

"The  towers  are  scattered  over  the  city  where  it  was  sup- 
posed they  were  most  needed.  Our  city  is  densely  shaded,  and 
not  as  well  lighted  as  we  wish.  We  hope  to  put  in  more  inter- 
section lights  in  the  near  future." 

From  T.  F.  HIGBY,  City  Clerk  of  Fairfield,  Iowa: 

"Trees  obstruct  the  light  somewhat  in  certain  quarters,  yet 
all  parts  seem  to  have  sufficient  light." 

From  GEORGE  C.  HODGES,  secretary  of  the  committee  having 
charge  of  the  lighting  of  Utica,  N".  Y. : 

"The  towers  are  used  mainly  in  the  outskirts  and  thinly  set- 
tled districts.  There  they  are  a  perfect  success.  In  the  heart 
of  the  city  they  are  a  failure." 

• 

From  Hon.  CHARLES  F.  MUHLER,  Mayor  of   Fort  Wayne, 

Ind.: 

"Towers  will  do  well  enough  for  the  suburbs,  where  houses 
are  low  and  scattered,  but  ar«  not  the  thing  for  the  central  part 
of  a  city.  Towers  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  limits 
and  half  a  mile  apart,  and  low  lights  swung  in  the  center  of 
cross  streets  every  other  square  and  alternate,  so  that  four  lights 
are  shining  on  the  corner  that  has  no  lamp,  makes  the  most 
perfect  lighting." 

INCANDESCENT    STREET   LIGHTING. 

The  principle  of  obtaining  light  by  means  of  the  "  incandes- 
cence" or  "  glow"  of  an  electric  conductor  enclosed  in  a  glass 
receiver,  from  which  the  air  is  exhausted,  has  been  well  known 
for  about  half  a  century.  The  modern  incandescent  lamp  or 
burner  consists  of  a  slender  strip  or  "  filament"  of  carbon  at- 
tached to  platinum  wires  and  enclosed  in  a  glass  globe  from 
which  the  air  is  exhausted  and  through  which  the  platinum 
wires  pass  hermetically  sealed. 

Any  electric  conductor  offers  some  resistance  to  the  flow  of  the 
electric  current,  and  resistance  in  a  conductor  through  which' a 
current  of  electricity  is  flowing  produces  heat.  As  heat  above 
a  certain  temperature  emits  light,  and  as  the  carbon  filament 
in  the  incandescent  lamp  is  of  high  resistance,  the  passing  of  a 
certain  current  of  electricity  through  it  produces  light. 

The  use  of  the  incandescent  lamp  upon  the  streets  of  cities 
has  not  until  recently  come  into  very  general  use.  In  supplant- 


168 


DISTRIBUTION    OF    LIGHT. 


ing  gas  with  electricity  the  idea  has  been  to  get  so  much  more 
illumination  than  under  the  old  method  that  the  arc  lamp  was 

alone  considered. 
It*  was  an  after 
thought  to  furnish 
by  the  incandes- 
cent lamp  about 
the  same  amount 
of  or  more  illum- 
ination, and  pro- 
duce and  supply  it 
by  neater  and 
readier  means.  It 
was  soon  found  to 
be  cheaper,  as  well 
as  better  than  gas, 
and  there  are  now 
several  companies 
which  are  devot- 
ing time  and  attention  to  incandescent  street 
lighting. 

One  obstacle  to  the  first  experimenters  in  the  field 
was  the  large  amount  of  wire  necessary  to  send  the 
current  over  circuits  of  any  length.  This  has  been 
obviated  by  the  series  system,  by  which  the  lamps 
are  run  on  the  same  principle  as  the  arc  lamps. 

In  regard  to  the  distribution  of  incandescent 
light  for  street  illumination  it  is  necessary  to  re- 
member that  the  requirements  of  the  various  cities 
differ  a  great  deal  acording  to  their  size,  the  ground 
plan  of  their  streets  and  the  character  and  pursuits 
of  the  population.  In  country  places  it  may  be  suffi- 
cient to  place  one  20  or  30  candle  power  light  at 
each  intersection  300  to  400  feet  apart. 

In  large  cities  it  is  necessary  to  have  the  alleys 
illuminated  and  also  to  place  lights 
in  the  middle  of  the  blocks.  The 
methods  of  the  gas  companies  in  plac- 
ing their  lights  can  safely  be  copied 
STREET  LAMP  AND  FIXTURE.  as  they  have  in  most  cases  succeeded 


DISTRIBUTION    OF   LIGHT.  169 

in  making  a  perfect  distribution  of  light  so  as  to  give  an  equal 
amount  all  over,  and  in  placing  the  lamps  where  they  are 
required.  An  improvement,  then,  cannot  be  sought  in  the 
method  of  distribution,  but  is  simply  a  matter  of  furnishing 
more  candle  power.  Lamps  of  30  and  45  candle  power,  placed 
in  or  near  the  same  places  where  the  gas  posts  stand  now  would 
give  any  of  the  larger  cities  a  most  perfect  night  illumination, 
but  if  more  illumination  should  be  called  for,  incandescent 
lamps  of  from  100  to  500  candle  power  may  be  employed. 

In  some  places  where  the  streets  are  lighted  with  incandescent 
lamps  the  companies  are  connecting  from  80  to  300  lamps  in 
one  circuit.  They  are  also  using  double  lamps  with  double 
holders.  They  have  no  groups  but  connect  strictly  in  series, 
all  lamps  being  on  the  main  line  and  perfectly  independent  of 
each  other.  The  current  is  of  low  amperage. 


Undergrounc| 


'ITH  the  appearance  of  electricity  into  municipal 
lighting  came  -the  unsightly  and  dangerous  conduct- 
ors of  the  electrical  current.  These  had  not  hitherto 
been  a  problem  of  public  discussion,  because  in  the 
rule  of  the  gas  regime  there  were  entirely  different  mechanical 
methods  employed  to  conduct  the  illuminant  from  the  source  of 
production  to  the  source  of  consumption.  The  gas  pipes  were 
buried  in  the  ground  without  any  other  than  mechanical  precau- 
tions, and  they  never  obtruded  themselves  upon  public  notice 
except  in  cases  of  leakages,  and  then  the  sense  of  smell  was 
outraged  while  the  sense  of  sight  was  unaffected. 

With  the  advent  of  electricity  came  the  poles  and  wires — 
no  doubt  detrimental  to  the  public  safety  and  against  the  pub~ 
lie  good.  The  wires  were  trained  overhead  on  poles  and  build- 
ings; and,  until  they  became  so  numerous  as  to  imperil  the 
safety  of  proparty,  and  some  were  demonstrated  to  be  so  deadly 
as  to  threaten  life,  they  were  suffered  because  they  were  the 
readiest  means  of  providing  and  maintaining  a  plant.  They 
were  cheaper  for  the  electrical  companies,  and  they  were  satis- 
factory to  the  public  corporations  by  reason  of  the  lack  of  proper 
knowledge  or  the  absence  of  fatal  illustrations. 

Some  of  the  larger  cities  began  some  years  ago  to  see  the 
necessity  of  providing  a  different  method  of  stringing  the  elec- 
trical conductors,  and  the  underground  circuit  soon  became  a 
subject  of  discussion,  but  the  technical  difficulties  in  the  way 
were  so  numerous,  and  the  pace  of  invention  in  this  direction 
was  so  slow,  that  very  little  actual  progress  has  been  made,  and 
the  subject  to-day  is  engaging  the  best  thoughts  of  the  most 
skillful  scientific  workers.  Such  discussion  as  it  has  had  has 
shown  clearly  that  the  undergroundmg  of  lines  is  a  feature 


UNDERGROUND  LINES.  171 

of  municipal  lighting  upon  which  reliable  information  is  imper- 
atively demanded. 

ACTION    SHOULD    BE    CONSERVATIVE. 

So  much  that  is  in  conflict  has  been  written  and  said  by 
those  directly  interested  in  the  subject  in  a  pecuniary  and 
scientific  way,  that  an  official  exposition  of  the  precise  situa- 
tion of  affairs  is  of  value  to  every  city  contemplating  a  change 
from  overhead  to  underground  service.  Especially  is  this  in- 
formation pertinent  in  view  of  the  action  of  some  municipal 
corporations  in  ordering  all  overhead  wires  within  certain  pre- 
scribed limits  to  be  placed  underground,  which,  no  one  famil- 
iar with  the  financial  circumstances  of  the  private  companies, 
will  contend  can  be  accomplished  without  considerable  expen- 
sive litigation.  The  fact  that  in  the  majority  of  the  cities 
where  such  a  change  has  been  ordered,  no  steps  have  been  taken 
by  any  of  the  telegraph  or  telephone  companies,  whose  wires 
form  the  greatest  danger  to  property,  or  by  the  high  tension  arc 
lighting  companies,  whose  wires  endanger  life,  to  go  under- 
ground with  their  lines  in  accordance  with  the  city  ordinances, 
makes  this  prophecy  apparent. 

There  is  also  another  view  to  be  taken  of  this  underground 
question.  Should  a  city,  whose  council  has  declared  that  the 
wires  must  go  underground,  conclude  that  it  is  advisable  to 
purchase  and  operate  its  own  electric  lighting  plant,  it  must  of 
course  conform  to  its  own  ordinances  and  bury  its  own  wires 
within  the  prescribed  limits.  To  do  otherwise  would  render 
the  action  of  the  authorities  abortive  and  insincere.  Therefore 
it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  in  putting  its  wires  under- 
ground, a  city  should  do  so  with  the  fullest  knowledge  of  the 
subject;  with  a  full  comprehension  of  the  difficulties  in  the 
way,  and  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  best  means  of  avoid- 
ing those  difficulties. 

If  the  city  should  conclude  that  it  is  not  wise  to  invest  in  a 
plant,  it  is  of  more  importance  that  its  representatives  should 
know  what  they  are  doing  in  ordering  private  corporations  to 
bury  their  wires.  If  underground  wires  are  practicable,  this 
knowledge  will  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  city  and  uphold 
the  arm  of  the  law;  if  not  wholly  practicable,  this  knowledge 


172  UNDERGROUND  LINES. 

will  serve  to  show  wherein  concessions  and  compromises  can  be 
made;  if  not  practicable  at  all,  the  city  will  know  that  its  pres- 
ent ordinances  are  unlawful,  or  at  least  unreasonable,  and  it 
can  save  itself  the  expense  of  useless  litigation  and  the  humili- 
ation of  defeat,  by  repealing  them. 

With  the  object  of  putting  before  municipal  authorities, 
and  to  furnish  all  interested  in  any  way  in  the  training  of  elec- 
tric light  wires  underground,  the  writer  has  prepared  a  somewhat 
exhaustive  analysis  of  the  situation,  together  with  opinions  pro 
and  con  from  corporations,  public  and  private,  from  manufac- 
turers of  underground  wires,  cables  and  conduits;  from  those 
who  from  choice  or  necessity  use  them,  and  from  parties  whose 
views  are  based  upon  their  financial  interest  in,  or  their  scien- 
tific knowledge  of,  the  subject. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  detail  the  arguments  in  favor  of  the 
underground  wire  system,  for  the  reason  that,  in  the  minds  of 
the  majority  of  people,  the  question  is  no  longer  one  of  advis- 
ability, but  has  passed  that  stage,  and  is  now  more  particularly  a 
question  as  to  what  method  may  be  safely  adopted  for  an  under- 
ground system.  The  fact  is  admitted  in  all  the  large  American 
cities  and  by  the  electrical  companies,  that  the  wires  must  ulti- 
mately be  placed  underground.  A  large  number  of  the  obstacles 
to  the  system  have  been  done  away  with  by  experience,  and  the 
main  objection  of  the  companies  has  practically  reduced  itself 
now  to  one  of  expense  and  a  perfect  insulation. 

Electric  light  conductors  are  very  dangerous  both  to  life  and 
property  whenever  improperly  insulated;  and  improper  insula- 
tion is  to  be  found  almost  everywhere  they  have  been  or  are 
being  used. 

OVERHEAD    SERVICE. 

From  its  physical  characteristics,  arc  lighting  has  gradually 
become  used  only  for  streets  and  large  areas  of  enclosed  space 
where  it  is  best  adapted  for  the  diffusion  of  its  concentrated 
beams  of  light.  On  the  contrary  the  incandescent  light,  by  the 
facility  it  affords  for  an  equal  distribution,  is  largely  used  in- 
doors. The  increasing  use  of  these  methods  of  illumination  and 
their  growing  popularity  has  commanded  attention  to  the  ques- 
tion— what  are  the  sources  of  danger  of  overhead  wires  ?  • 

In  many  places  electric  light  and  power  wires  are  carried 


UNDERGROUND  LIM>.  173 

dangerously  near  buildings,  awnings,  telegraph  or  other  poles, 
lamp-posts  and  other  street  obstructions.  Again,  in  many 
cities  several  distinct  lines  of  poles  carrying  electric  conductors 
are  to  be  found  on  the  same  side  of  the  same  street,  and  as 
these  poles  necessarily  differ  in  height  the  wires  upon  them 
form  a  complete  network,  rendering  the  efficient  use  of  the 
hooks  and  ladders  and  life-saving  apparatus  of  the  Fire  De- 
partment almost  impossible;  whereas  the  placing  of  all  the 
wires  on  the  same  side  of  any  street  upon  one  line  of  poles 
would  in  a  great  measure  obviate  this  difficulty. 

One  source  of  complaint  against  overhead  wires  in  numer- 
ous places  is  explained  by  the  entire  absence  of  any  regula- 
tions or  inspection,  except  that  made  by  the  electrical  compa- 
nies themselves.  This  is  true  also  of  all  house  connections. 
In  fact,  the  city  authorities  in  a  great  many  cities  exercise 
actually  no  control  over  the  distribution  of  the  most  danger- 
ous element  necessity  and  invention  has  given  us.  The  appre- 
hension by  the  public  of  danger  to  life  from  the  arc  lighting 
system,  with  the  current  of  great  intensity  necessarily  used, 
and  of  danger  from  fire  by  the  multitudinous  wires  of  other 
electric  installations,  would  be  largely  without  basis  if  a  uni- 
form method  was  established  for  the  inspection  of  the  methods 
of  wiring  and  insulation.  Then,  only  the  larger  cities  should 
force  their  electric  light  companies  underground,  and  this  force 
should  only  be  applied  after  a  practicable  method  has  been 
tested  and  adopted.  The  smaller  municipalities  are  abundantly 
able  to  protect  their  citizens  and  their  property  without  forcing 
the  companies  to  an  expense  that  is  uncalled  for,  except  by  a 
popular  cry  against  electric  wires. 

The  gas  companies  do  not  permit  the  flow  of  gas  into  a  ser- 
vice newly  introduced  in  a  building  until  all  leakages  are  de- 
tected and  stopped.  Under  proper  safeguards  and  restrictions 
the  risk  to  persons  and  property  from  electric  lighting  can  be 
reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  in  the  absence  of  these  lies  the 
danger.  The  use  of  steam  without  proper  precautions  and  by 
careless  and  incompetent  persons,  and  even  the  ordinary  illu- 
minating gas  and  coal  oils,  may  become  ^sources  of  as  great 
risk  as  electricity  presents  when  the  well-known  electrical  laws 
are  not  observed. 

A  thorough  inspection,  classification,  and  in  some  cases  re- 


174  UNDERGROUND   LINES. 

construction,  of  the  overhead  service  is  a  duty  which  councils 
should  turn  their  attention  to  as  quickly  as  to  regulate  the 
burying  of  wires.  By  so  doing  the  dangers  and  complications 
of  overhead  wires  will  be  materially  diminished. 

Of  course  it  is  not  the  duty  of  municipal  corporations  to 
solve  electrical  problems  for  the  benefit  of  the  electrical  com- 
panies, and  in  judging  of  any  system  of  underground  or  over- 
head connections  proposed  by  such  a  company,  the  city  is  con- 
cerned with  its  electrical  features  only  so  far  as  they  affect  its 
repairs  or  changes,  and  the  disturbance  of  the  city  streets 
which  these  may  involve.  That  is  to  say,  questions  of  detail 
concerning  insulators,  conductors,  preventives  or  remedies  for 
induction,  etc.,  may  be  safely  left  to  the  companies  themselves, 
their  interest  being  to  secure  and  maintain  an  efficient  service 
in  these  respects;  provided  always  that  the  system  proposed  be 
one  which  will  permit  experiment,  repair,  renewal  and  change 
without  excavation.  If  the  streets  must  be  dug  up  every  time 
an  old  cable  or  wire  fails,  or  a  new  one  is  to  be  tried,  then  it 
is  part  of  the  duty  of  the  city  to  know  beforehand  what  sort 
of  conductors,  insulators,  etc.,  will  be  used  in  any -proposed 
system,  and  to  approve  only  that  system  which  promises  in 
these  respects  the  greatest  efficiency  and  permanence.  Other- 
wise, these  considerations  concern  the  electricians  and  man- 
agers of  the  companies  only. 

A    SAMPLE    SET    OF    RULES. 

For  the  information  of  councils  a  set  of  rules  is  here  sub- 
mitted, which  would  render  the  overhead  service  much  better 
in  their  localities.  No  doubt  experience  and  a  different  order 
of  things  in  each  city  will  demonstrate  the  advisability  of  ex- 
tensive modifications  of  and  additions  to  these  rules,  but  in 
many  respects  they  embody  a  code  which  it  would  be  desirable 
to  adopt.  The  rules  suggested  are  these  : 

1.  No  two  lines  of  poles  shall  be  on  the  same  side  of  any 
street  or  avenue. 

2.  No  two  lines  of  poles  bearing  conductors  or  similar  elec- 
trical service  shall  be  on  any  street  or  avenue. 

3.  Electric  light  poles  shall  be  of  iron,  at  least  twenty-five 
feet  in  height,  with  a  diameter  of  not  more  than  eight  inches 
at  the  base,  and  having  cross-arms  of  wood  with  glass,  porce- 
lain or  rubber  insulators,  and  painted  a  uniform  color. 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  175 

4.  Poles  for  telegraph,  telephone  and  -other  similar  wires 
shall  be  at  least  sixty  feet  in  height. 

5.  Poles  shall  be  placed  upon  the  sidewalk  as  near  the  curb 
as  possible,  and  no  pole  shall  be  placed  within  ten  feet  of  any 
lamp-post  or  other  pole. 

6.  All  wires  shall  be  fastened  upon  poles  or  other  fixtures 
with  glass,  porcelain  or  rubber  insulators. 

7.  No  wires  shall  be  stretched  within  one  foot  of  any  pole 
without  being  attached  to  the  same  with  glass,  porcelain  or 
rubber  insulation. 

8.  No  wires  shall  be  stretched  within  twenty  feet  of  the 
ground  or  within  four  feet  of  any  building,  except  when  at- 
tached thereto  with  glass,  rubber  or  porcelain  insulators. 

9.  No  arc  electric  light  or  power  wires  shall  be  stretched 
over  any  part  of  any  house  or  other  building. 

10.  The  companies  or  persons  owning  or  controlling  poles  in 
any  street  or  avenue  shall  allow  the  same  to  be  used  by  other 
companies  or  persons  operating  conductors  for  similar  elec- 
trical service,  when  authorized  so  to  do,  on  tender  of  proper 
compensation,  to  be  determined  by  agreement  between  the 
parties  interested.     In  default  of  such  agreement  the  amount 
of   such    compensation   shall   be  determined  by  the   council. 
This  rule  imports  a  contract  on  the  part  of  each  company  or 
person  owning  or  controlling  the  poles  in  any  street  or  avenue, 
not  only  with  the  council,  but  also  with  each  company  or  per- 
son who  shall,  under  its  terms,  be  qualified  to  demand  the 
privileges  it  confers. 

11.  Any  member  of  the  council,  or  officer  or  inspector  em- 
ployed by  it,  as  well  as  every  member  of  the  police  force  of 
the  city,  shall  be  entitled  to  examine  permits   under  which 
work  of  any  kind  is  being  done. 

12.  All  poles  now  standing,  or  to  be  h'ereafter  erected,  shall 
be  branded  or  stamped  with  the  initials  of  the  company  own- 
ing them,  at  a  point  not  less  than  five  or  more  than  seven  feet 
from  the  street  surface.     When  an  old  pole  is  taken  down  it 
must  be  removed  from  the  street  the  same  day.     New  poles 
must  not  be  brought  upon  any  street  more  than  two  days  in 
advance  of   their  erection.      Any  pole  that  shall  lie  on  any 
street  more  than  two  days  shall  be  removed  by  the  Department 
of  Public  Works,  at  the  expense  of  the  party  owning  it. 

1.3.  All  electrical  companies  or  persons  having  poles  in  the 
public  streets  shall  give  a  bond  to  the  city  in  a  reasonable 
amount,  to  be  determined  in  each  case  by  the  board,  condi- 
tioned for  the  payment  of  the  cost  of  remo'ving  dangerous  and 
abandoned  poles,  and  also  for  the  payment  of  the  expense  of 
restoring  the  sidewalks  and  pavements  where  the  same  have 
been  disturbed  or  injured  in  consequence  of  the  erection  or 
removal  of  any  pole  owned  by  them. 


176  UNDERGROUND    LINES. 

14.  The  violation  of  any  of  these  rules  and  regulations  shall 
operate  ipso  facto  by  a  revocation  of  the  permit  held  by  the 
company  or  person  guilty  of  such  violation. 

15.  Whenever  any  company  is  permitted  to  erect  posts  or 
poles  or  other  fixtures,  bearing  lamps  or  other  devices  for  the 
purpose  of  lighting  by  electricity  the  streets,  avenues,  high- 
ways, parks  or  public  places  of  the  city,  said  permission  shall 
be  granted  only  subject  to  the  following  provisions,  and  the 
same  is  hereby  expressly  made  a  condition  of  said  permits  : 
"At  any  time  when,  by  action  of  the  city  authorities,  the  con- 
tract for  lighting  any  such  street  or  other  public  place  shall  be 
given  to  another  company,  the  company  erecting  said  lighting 
fixtures  or  lamp-posts  shall,  on  tender  of  the  first  cost  thereof, 
yield  possession  and  ownership  of  the  same  to  the  said  other 
company  obtaining  the  new  contract." 

UNDERGROUND    SERVICE. 

In  this  advanced  age  of  electrical  science  it  requires  a  con- 
stant outlook  to  keep  pace  with  the  latest  and  best  improve- 
ments that  are  being  invented  for  underground  service.  To 
serve  the  interests  of  municipal  corporations  this  book  will, 
therefore,  endeavor  to  show  the  advance  that  has  been  made; 
what  different  systems  of  overhead  and  underground  electrical 
service  are  in  operation;  what  progress  has  been  made  in  dis- 
posing of  overhead  wires,  in  what  manner  it  is  done,  and  to 
give  the  probable  cost  of  placing  the  wires,  either  in  conduits 
constructed  especially  for  drawing  in  cables,  or  of  burying  the 
insulated  wires  in  the  ground,  the  kind  of  cable  or  conduit  in 
use,  and  whether  there  is  any  particular  benefit  to  be  derived 
in  having  cables  placed  in  conduits  where  they  can  be  hauled 
in  or  out  at  pleasure,  or  buried  in  the  earth.  In  nearly  every 
city  one  will  find  different  systems  in  use,  with  no  particular 
uniformity  of  construction,  either  in  shape,  size,  or  the  kind 
of  material  used.  Some  effort  is  being  made  to  have  the  poles 
removed  from  the  streets  and  the  wires  put  out  of  sight,  but, 
with  the  exception  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  the  progress  has 
been  so  slight  that  it  is  scarcely  noticeable.  There  seems  to 
be  a  fear  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  managers  of  telegraph, 
telephone  and  electric  light  companies  that  the  time  has  not 
yet  arrived  to  a  certainty  that  all  kinds  of  electrical  currents 
can  be  worked  any  great  distance  underground  a  length  of 
time  that  will  warrant  the  cost  of  construction  and  removal  of 


UNDERGBOUND     LINES.  177 

the  poles  and  overhead  wires.  This  has  been  the  argument  of 
electrical  companies  since  the  subject  of  underground  lines 
was  first  discussed.  So  far  as  the  telephone  and  telegraph 
companies  are  concerned,  this  fear  is  purely  imaginary  from 
an  electrical  point  of  view;  with  the  high  tension  arc  light  sys- 
tem it  is  undoubtedly  well  founded. 

IN    CHICAGO. 

There  is  more  subterranean  electrical  service  and  a  greater 
length  of  mileage  in  use  in  Chicago  than  in  any  other  city, 
and  the  claim  has  been  made  by  the  electrical  companies  that  the 
arc  light  industry  has  been  practically  strangled  in  consequence. 
The  conduit  system,  in  which  various  arc  lighting  wires  have 
been  placed,  is  made  of  a  special  form  of  asphaltum  concrete, 
originally  devised  for  sewer  pipe,  and  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  civil  engineers  who  have  carefully  examined  it,  is 
practically  indestructible  for  underground  work,  although  it 
should  be  properly  protected  from  the  prolonged  effect  of  ex- 
treme heat.  This  material  is  a  good  insulator,  and  it  was  this 
qualification  which  led  to  its  availability  for  subterranean 
electrical  work.  This  form  of  conduit  is  known  as  the  Dor- 
sett. 

There  are  seventeen  miles  of  Dorsett  conduit  in  Chicago, 
containing  150  miles  of  wire.  It  is  owned  by  the  Sectional 
Underground  Company,  and  is  used  by  all  the  arc  light  compa- 
nies, consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  Chicago  Arc  Light 
and  Power  Company. 

The  Western  Union  has  ten  miles  of  three-inch  iron  pipe, 
containing  150  miles  of  wire. 

The  Chicago  Telephone  Company  has  three  miles  of  lead 
cable,  and  three  and  one-half  miles  of  three-inch  iron  pipe,  all 
encased  in  solid  cement,  and  carrying  200  miles  of  wire. 

The  Bankers'  and  Merchants'  Telegraph  Company  has  fifteen 
miles  of  iron  pipe  and  400  miles  of  wire. 

The  Postal  Telegraph  Company  has  four  and  one-half  miles 
of  lead  cable,  buried  in  a  square  four-inch  iron  box,  with  100 
miles  of  wire. 

The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Telegraph  Company  has  two  miles 
of  four  and  one-half  inch  iron  pipe,  surrounded  by  asphaltum, 
holding  50  miles  of  wire. 


178       »  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

The  corporation  of  Chicago  has  6,604  feet  of  conduit,  19,296 
feet  of  iron  pipe,  1,200  feet  of  wooden  trough,  73,731  feet  of 
cable,  9,000  feet  of  three-inch  sewer  pipe,  all  containing  65 
miles  of  single  wire. 

The  cables  used  in  the  conduits  are  of  different  patents  and 
various  construction.  Access  to  the  cables  is  obtained  by  means 
of  man-holes,  placed  at  the  intersections  of  the  streets.  The  man- 
holes are  of  the  same  material  as  the  conduits,  bottle-shaped, 
with  cast-iron  collar  and  double  cast-iron  covers.  To  provide 
for  the  distribution  of  wires  a  hand-hole  has  been  devised, 
through  which  the  cables  are  led.  From  this  hand-hole  smaller 
pipes  are  laid,  similar  in  construction  to  the  main  pipe,  but  in- 
cased in  iron  to  give  the  requisite  strength. 

Other  conduits  are  laid,  consisting  of  wrought-iron  pipe 
about  four  inches  in  diameter,  several  of  which  are  placed  side 
by  side.  The  cables  running  through  these  pipes  are  reached 
by  brick  man-holes,  four  feet  long,  three  feet  wide,  and  five 
feet  deep,  with  cast-iron  caps  set  flush  with  the  street,  with  a 
drip  to  catch  what  water  may  work  under  the  lid. 

As  to  the  operation  of  the  arc  light  service  in  Chicago,  City 
Electrician  John  P.  Barrett  writes: 

"I  have  known  electric  lighting  to  be  done  in  Chicago  for 
about  five  years  past,  and  arn  conversant  with  the  means  em- 
ployed and  which  have  been  employed  in  Chicago  for  conduct- 
ing electricity  from  the  point  where  generated  to  the  lighting 
point.  Underground  conductors  for  the  conveyance  of  elec- 
tric light  currents  are  in  use  in  Chicago  quite  generally.  An 
ordinance  passed  by  the  Common  Council  prohibits  the  cross- 
ing of  streets  or  alleys  by  aerial  electric  wires,  and  there  are 
no  electric  light  wires  overhead.  There  are  instances  in  this  city 
where  wires  are  extended  from  one  building  to  another,  where 
no  streets  or  alleys  intervene,  over  said  building,  but  not  over 
streets  or  alleys.  There  are  many  instances  where  an  isolated 
plant  furnishes  power  to  lights  in  an  individual  building,  or  to 
more  than  one  building  in  the  same  block,  where  no  street  or 
alley  intervenes.  Wires  for  such  purposes  are  not  under- 
ground, but  in  all  other  instances,  and  there  are  a  great  many 
of  them  in  the  city,  the  power  is  generated  at  a  common  cen- 
ter and  distributed  only  by  underground  wires  enclosed  in 
cables  and  conducted  through  underground  conduits  to  the 
lights.  Where  wires  cross  house-tops  they  are  required  to  be 
at  least  seven  feet  above  the  roof,  to  prevent  their  interference 
with  the  fire  department.  Between  1,500  and  1,800  arc  lights 
are  supplied  by  means  of  wires  laid  underground. 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  179 

"  Electricity  for  lighting  iias  been  conducted  underground 
in  this  city  for  at  least  four  years.  There  are  American, West- 
ern Electric,  Sperry,  Ball,  Excelsior,  Fort  Wayne  Jenney, 
Thomson-Houston  and  others,  all  arc  light  systems,  in  opera- 
tion. In  all  cases  where  these  operate  plants  that  take  in  ter- 
ritory on  both  sides  of  the  streets,  they  are  operated  through 
underground  conductors.  There  have  been  such  underground 
connections  and  conductors  in  successful  operation  any  time 
within  the  past  three  years  or  longer,  and  these  have  been 
steadily  increasing  during  that  period  of  time. 

"  In  my  opinion  it  is  perfectly  practicable  to  operate  arc  lights 
by  means  of  underground  wires,  and  has  been  for  the  past  three 
years.  We  have  a  variety  of  conduits  through  which  electric 
light  conductors  are  carried,  principally  the  Dorsett  system, 
which  is  composed  of  a  nine-inch  pipe,  perforated  with  seven 
holes  or  ducts;  these  holes  or  ducts  vary  in  size  from  one  and 
one-half  inches  to  two  inches  in  diameter.  This  pipe  is  made 
of  asphaltum  and  other  ingredients,  in  sections  three  feet  in 
length,  laid  beneath  the  surface  and  cemented  together  with  a 
cement  of  the  same  material.  These  pipes  are  continued  from 
street  crossing  to  street  crossing,  and  they  are  also  connected 
with  the  corner  of  blocks  on  squares  from  man-holes.  At 
street  crossings  man-holes  are  placed,  through  which  the  wires 
are  drawn  through  the  holes  or  ducts.  I  believe  it  is  the  uni- 
versal practice  to  place  signal  wires,  the  positive  placed  in  one 
duct  and  the  negative  in  another.  Each  of  these  ducts  can 
readily  accommodate  two  lead-covered  cables  of  the  largest 
size. 

"  The  construction  of  cables  differs.  We  have  what  is  known 
as  the  Western  Electric,  or  Patterson  cable,  with  a  core  of 
copper,  cotton  covered,  paraffine  insulation,  surrounded  by  lead 
covering.  We  have  also  the  Standard  cable,  the  insulation  of 
which  I  am  not  familiar  with,  also  lead  covered.  We  have 
also  the  Okonite  cable,  with  core  of  copper.  The  size  of  these 
copper  cores  vary  in  proportion  to  the  conductivity  required, 
insulated  with  okonite  sufficiently  high  to  resist  the  pressure 
on  the  circuit.  Then  we  have  what  is  known  as  the  Kerite 
cable,  which  is  similar  to  the  Okonite,  with  core  the  same,  and 
is  sometimes  covered  with  lead,  but  usually  not.  We  have 
also  iron  pipe  laid  beneath  the  surface,  with  man-holes  at  street 
intersections  and  wires  led  into  houses  underneath  the  side- 
walks. We  have  also  a  limited  quantity  of  wooden  box,  which 
is  treated  with  some  chemical  process  to  preserve  the  wood, 
laid  underneath  the  surface  in  the  shape  of  conduits,  through 
which  cables  are  carried.  Also  sewer-pipe,  laid  in  cement,  with 
brick  man-holes. 

"  Volts  of  pressure  in  the  arc  or  high  tension  systems  vary 
between  23  or  25  to  50  per  lamp.  Pressure  tends  to  force  the 


180  UXDERGROUND    LINES. 

current  through  the  insulation,  hence,  the  higher  the  pressure  the 
greater  the  need  of  insulation.  I  know  of  no  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  operating  electric  light  by  means  of  underground  wires. 
The  only  difficulty  would  be  lack  of  conductivity,  imperfect 
insulation,  or  imperfectly  laid  conduits,  either  of  which  would 
be  purely  mechanical. 

"  I  should  say  the  cost  of  Western  Electric  or  Patterson  ca- 
ble, copper  core,  cotton  covered,  paraffine  insulation,  surrounded 
by  lead  covering,  with  conductivity  sufficient  for  a  fifty-light 
circuit,  would  be  about  $1,000  per  mile;  single  wires,  Kerite 
insulation,  with  same  capacity  and  insulation,  $1,000  per  mile. 
I  would  suggest  a  two-inch  iron  pipe  for  conduits,  which  would 
accommodate  three  conductors,  with  twelve  man-holes  at  aver- 
age intervals.  Such  pipe,  at  present  market  quotation,  would 
cost  about  $631  per  mile,  and  man-holes  about  $45  each.  Ex- 
cavations, filling,  repairing  pavement,  etc.,  would  cost  about 
$3,690  per  mile.  The  aforesaid  pipe  will  accommodate  three 
conductors.  The  cdst  of  increased  space  would  be  in  propor- 
tion, as  would  also  the  cost  of  additional  wire  or  cable.  The 
prices  I  quote  are  based  on  the  cost  of  material,  labor,  etc.,  in 
this  market,  and  also  on  streets  paved  with  wooden  blocks. 

"  The  city  has  had  laid  for  it  ten  miles  of  cable,  encased  in 
iron  pipe,  underground,  by  contract.  The  work  was  let  to  the 
Western  Electric  Company,  of  this  city,  for  $29,295.  Em- 
braced in  this  contract  is  supplying  ten  miles  of  iron-armored 
cable,  protected  in  iron  pipe  where  laid  underground. 

"  In  connection  with  the  underground  system,  we  have  a  num- 
ber of  man-holes  at  street  intersections,  which  vary  in  size,  the 
largest  being  about  four  feet  square,  and  about  three  and  a  half 
feet  high  below  the  neck  ;  the  neck  about  two  and  a  half  feet 
long,  reaching  to  the  street  level,  ancj  the  whole  being  covered 
by  an  iron  cover  ;  through  the  area  thus  formed  and  of  the  di- 
mensions thus  given,  all  the  wires  and  cable  contained  in  both 
intersecting  conduits  pass,  there  being  a  conduit  on  each  side 
of  the  intersecting  streets.  On  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
La  Salle  streets  is  one  of  the  largest  sized  man-holes,  about  the 
dimensions  given,  and  through  this  man-hole  pass  eleven  or 
twelve  circuits,  or  eleven  or  twelve  fpositive  wires,  and  an 
equal  number  of  negative  wires,  or  twenty-two  or  twenty-four 
wires  in  all,  and  these  wires  are  operated  without  any  difficulty 
and  without  any  perceptible  escape  of  current.  Several  of 
these  wires  passing  through  the  man-hole  are  used  by  the  high 
tension  electric  light  systems.  There  is  practically  no  difficulty 
in  the  arc  and  high-tension  systems  of  lighting  to  wires  carried 
in  cables  through  underground  conduits. 

"  The  Dorsett  system  of  underground  conduits  was  intro- 
duced in  Chicago  in  1883,  and  electric  light  wires  and  high 
tension  wires  have  been  successfully  operated  ever  since  through 
said  conduit  system." 


INhKK.i  ROUND     LINES.  181 

B.  E.  SUNNY,  president  of  the  Chicago  Arc  Light  and  Power 
Co.,  which  furnishes  all  the  arc  lighting  in  Chicago,  writes  to 
this  effect: 

"  We  are  furnishing  about  1,000  arc  lights  through  under- 
ground wires  in  the  business  part  of  the  city.  There  is  some- 
thing like  60  miles  of  cable  used  for  this  purpose.  This  com- 
pany was  organized  after  the  passage  of  the  prohibitive  wire 
ordinance,  and  has  never  been  allowed  to  put  wires  any  place 
but  underground. 

"  Our  experience  thus  far  has  been  of  the  most  discouraging 
character.  We  have  taken  out  and  thrown  away  miles  of  wire 
covered  with  insulation  of  the  character  of  rubber,  and  have 
substituted  lead  cables.  One  class  of  the  latter  cables  have 
utterly  failed,  and  we  are  now  taking  them  out  and  replacing 
them  with  another  style. 

"  Tkere  is  no  question  but  what  arc  light  wires  can  be  success- 
fully operated  underground,  but  it  is  going  to  take  another 
year,  or  possibly  two,  before  it  is  found  out  what  the  condition's 
must  be  in  order  to  get  this  result.  We  think  we  have  now 
found  a  lead  cable  that  will  serve  us  for  a  reasonable  period, 
but  after  having  spent  our  money  on  it  we  cannot  say  posi- 
tively whether  it  will  do  so  or  not.  In  fact  it  is  a  thing  that 
no  man  knows  anything  about." 

IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

Numerous  kinds  of  electric  light,  telegraph  and  telephone 
underground  electrical  conductors  have  been  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  Philadelphia  Electrical  Department,  with  a  view 
of  introducing  them  in  that  city,  and  soliciting  information  as 
to  the  best  method  of  bringing  their  particular  kind  or  inven- 
tion to  the  notice  of  the  public,  in  some  cases  tendering  to  the 
department,  free  of  cost,  specimens  for  the  purpose  of  having 
them  tested.  In  several  cases  the  proposition  was  accepted, 
the  cables  were  buried  in  the  ground,  and  placed  in  regular 
working  circuits.  Thus  the  electrical  world  has  had  an  excel- 
lent opportunity  to  witness  the  results  of  a  care*ful  experiment. 

In  1886,  ground  was  broken  for  the  introduction  of  the  first 
permanent  underground  service  for  municipal  purposes.  The 
conduit,  5,200  feet  in  length,  laid  under  the  sidewalk  at  an 
average  depth  of  one  foot,  and  under  street  crossings  of  two 
feet,  is  of  one  inch  spruce,  with  inside  dimensions  two  by  two 
and  one-half  inches,  which  was  filled  with  pitch,  after  the 
cables  had  been  laid  in  it.  The  cables  used  were  those  known 


182  UNDEKGKOUND     LINES. 

as  the  "  Waring."  One,  5,200  feet  in  length  devoted  to  tele- 
graph and  telephone  purposes,  is  known  as  the  six-wire  anti- 
induction  cable,  from  the  fact  of  each  conductor  being  insulated, 
separately  covered  with  lead,  and  drawn  together  in  corrugated 
form  for  convenience  in  finding  the  conductors.  One  of  the 
corrugations  has  a  sharp  edge  from  which  count  can  be  made 
to  the  one  required.  The  other  cable  is  round,  with  eleven 
wires  bunched  and  twisted  together  to  form  a  conductor  equal 
in  conductivity  to  a  No.  4  copper  wire,  and  is  used  for  electric 
lighting  purposes. 

"Both  of  these  cables,"  writes  D.  R.  Walker,  chief  of  the 
department,  "  have  worked  entirely  satisfactory,  and  have  not 
been  out  of  service  since  first  put  down.  The  current  was  first 
supplied  by  the  United  States  Electric  Light  Company,  by 
means  of  seven  miles  of  overhead  wires  supplying  Weston 
lamps.  This  service  has  worked  without  failure,  the  lights  not 
having  been  extinguished,  except  through  a  stopping  of  the  ma- 
chinery at  the  Electric  Light  Company's  works,  or  the  break- 
ing of  the  air-lines,  and  has  demonstrated  to  me  the  entire  fea- 
sibility of  underground  service  for  electric  lighting  purposes." 

"  Although  explosions  have  occasionally  occurred  in  the  con- 
duit of  private  corporations,"  says  Mr.  Walker,  "  nothing  of 
the  kind  has  thus  far  taken  place  in  those  constructed  by  the 
city." 

The  largest  private  corporation  in  Philadelphia  is  the  Penn 
Electric  Company.  For  their  conduits  they  have  made  use  of 
creosoted  wood,  and  in  place  of  ducts  have  provided  hangers 
on  which  to  place  the  cables.  The  system  is  made  use  of  in 
sections  of  the  city  where  sub -ways  would  be  too  expensive, 
and  is  found  to  be  excellent  in  many  respects.  It  is  the  inten- 
tion in  Philadelphia  to  place  all  the  city  wires  underground, 
yet  it  is  a  fact,  known  to  everybody  who  visits  the  Quaker 
City,  that  at  the  present  time  there  is  but  a  small  per  cent, 
of  the  wires  out*of  sight. 

Chief  WALKER  also  sends  the  following  explicit  informa- 
tion : 

"  In  reply  to  your  request  for  information  about  the  working 
of  high  tension  electrical  currents  (Brush  and  Thomson-Hous- 
ton) underground  in  this  city,  and  whether  the  experiments 
made  by  me  have  been  successful  or  otherwise,  I  will  say,  we 
have  seven  miles  of  electric  light  cable  in  use,  two  miles  of 
which  were  laid  in  May,  1886,  and  five  miles  early  in  1887. 


UNDERGROUND     LI  183 

Then  (ire  working  entirely  satisfactory  to  this  Bureau,  in  fact  so 
much  so  that  I  propose  laying  about  five  or  six  miles  addi- 
tional this  spring.  One  of  the  cables  is  five  and  one-half  miles 
in  length,  and  the  other  one  and  one-half  miles.  To  connect 
the  longest  length  with  the  electric  light  station  about  five 
miles  of  air  line  is  used,  making  the  total  length  of  conductor 
about  ten  miles,  carrying  a  current  of  2,700  volts,  generated  by 
a  Thomson-Houston  dynamo  to  fifty-eight  2,000  candle-power 
lamps  of  the  Brush  pattern.  The  Brush  Electric  Light  Co. 
have  also  laid  one  mile  of  cable  in  the  same  conduit  with  that 
owned  by  the  City,  and  is  used  in  connection  with  it.  They 
never  yet,  to  my  knowledge,  had  a  ground  or  trouble  on  it. 
Several  times  during  severe  lightning  and  thunder  storms,  the 
Electric  Lighting  Company  supplying  the  longest  cable  with 
current,  have  been  compelled  to  shut  down  the  dynamo,  the 
shocks  received  were  so  great  as  to  burn  out  the  armatures  of 
the  machines.  On  one  occasion  two  were  burned  out  in  one 
niijht.  You  can  readily  see  what,  a  tremendous  tension  there 
was  on  the  cable  for  the  time.  A  more  severe  test  could  prob- 
ably never  have  been  made. 

"  We  have  had  some  few  grounds  on  the  cables,  but  they 
were  in  a  great  majority  of  the  cases  caused  by  the  careless- 
ness of  the  workingmen,  or  those  engaged  in  trimming  the 
lamps.  These  troubles  occurred  principally  at  the  terminals 
where  the  cable  was  carried  to  the  lamps,  and  were  readily 
removed.  The  first  two  miles  of  electric  light  cable  the  city 
had  put  down  was  laid  side  by  side  with  a  six  conductor  tele- 
graph cable  in  a  wooden  box  two  and  one-half  by  five  inches, 
filled  with  roofing  pitch  to  keep  out  gas  and  moisture,  and  / 
have  never  had  a  ground  on  either  cable  laid  in  this  form. 
Both  are  working  perfectly  satisfactory  to  me.  The  balance 
of  the  cables,  electric  light,  telegraph  and  telephone,  are  laid 
in  creosoted  wooden  boxes,  divided  into  ducts  two  and  one- 
half  inches  square.  I  prefer  conduits  so  constructed  that  the 
cables  can  be  drawn  in  or  out,  at  will,  as  circumstances  require. 
The  man-holes  should  not  be  more  than  500  feet  apart,  and 
made  of  hard  brick  and  cast-iron  cover,  sufficiently  strong  to 
resist  pressure  from  above. 

"  The  question  of  supplying  current  for  arc  lighting  through 
cables  placed  underground  has,  in  my  judgment,  been  settled 
beyond  a  doubt  as  practical.  It  is  less  liable  to  interruption, 
and  the  cost  of  maintenance  is  far  less  than  in  the  overhead 
service,  the  first  cost  of  construction  being  the  main  drawback 
to  its  general  adoption." 

M.  RICHARDS  MUCKLE,  JR.,  Secretary  and  Manager  of  the 
Keystone  Light  and  Power  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  writes: 

"  While  we  are  using  the  '  Waring'  cable  for   incandescent 


184  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

lighting  in  connection  with  our  station,  the  current  which  we 
are  using  on  the  same  is  a  1,000  volt  alternating  current,  which 
is  carried  into  the  buildings  to  converters,  which  there  induces 
a  fifty  volt  current,  which  we  use  in  the  lamps.  In  connection 
with  Strawbridge  and  Clothier's  plant  at  Eighth  and  Market 
streets,  we  have  put  in  seven  circuits  of  underground  '  Waring  ' 
cable,  each  carrying  current  for  thirty  2,000  candle  power  arc 
lamps. 

"  D.  R.  Walker,  chief  of  the  Electrical  Bureau  of  this  city, 
has  miles  of  the  '  Waring  '  cable  underground,  carrying  current 
for  2,000  C.  P.  arc  lamps  of  the  Brush,  Thomson-Houston  and 
United  States  Company's  systems,  and  he  has  had  them  in  use 
for  three  or  four  years.  For  the  most  extended  use  of  under- 
ground cable  for  arc  light  circuits,  we  would  refer  you  to  Mr. 
Walker." 

Mr.  A.  J.  DECAMP,  general  manager  of  the  Brush  Electric 
Light  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  gives  another  view  of  the  question. 
He  writes  : 

"  The  Philadelphia  Company,  of  which  I  am  general  man- 
ager, has  one  circuit  of  about  eight  miles,  about  one-half  of 
which  is  underground  and  the  balance  aerial  wire,  and  upon 
which  they  have  fifty-four  lights  ;  twenty-eight  being  directly 
underground  and  twenty-six  upon  the  aerial  part  of  the  circuit. 
It  has  been  operated  under  these  conditions  for  about  one  year. 
The  cable  is  No.  4  Birmingham  gauge  wire,  encased  in  lead 
and  known  as  the  '  Standard  '  or  '  Waring  '  cable.  The  inci- 
dents of  the  last  twelve  months  are  :  three  faults  in  cable, 
requiring  the  erection  of  aerial  wires  between  certain  lamps  ; 
and  three  explosions  in  man-holes,  caused'by  defective  cable  to 
the  extent  of  causing  spark  and  igniting  gas  which  had  accu- 
mulated. The  same  station  is  furnishing  the  city  with  seventy- 
seven  public  lights,  upon  which  they,  the  city,  claim  last  month 
that  nineteen  lights  were  out,  fifteen  of  which  were  supplied 
from  the  underground  circuit.  The  above  is,  in  brief,  the  his- 
tory of  the  underground  work  in  this  city,  which  I  learn  is 
being  very  generally  quoted  as  being  a  perfect  success.  As  up 
to  this  date  the  public  have  got  the  light  for  which  they  pay, 
I  suppose  such  an  opinion  naturally  follows.  With  these  facts 
before  you,  I  leave  the  matter  of  success  to  your  own  judg- 
ment. 

"  Whatever  conclusion  you  may  come  to  upon  the  merits  of 
this  particular  experiment,  I  will  say  that  the  general  construc- 
tion of  this  circuit  is  not  such  as  could  be  adopted  for  general 
service  by  a  central  station  of  any  considerable  size.  My  ex- 
perience with  this  and  other  experiments  convinces  me  that  we 
must  first  find  a  perfect  insulation,  then  a  perfect  method  of 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  185 

applying  it  before  we  can  hope  for  any  permanent  success.  In 
ray  own  judgment,  neither  of  these  have  as  yet  been  secured. 
Granting  that  they  may  be,  there  arises  a  no  less  difficult  prob- 
lem of  applying  them  in  a  manner  sufficiently  flexible  to  meet 
the  demands  which  we  find  a  business  community  make  upon 
us  ami  all  other  public  servitors.  In  a  word,  as  experiences 
multiply  I  grow  more  sceptical  upon  the  subject." 

T.  CARPENTER  SMITH,  Superintendent  of  the  Allegheny 
County  Light  Co.,  of  Pittsburgh,  writes: 

'•We  only  have  a  small  amount,  some  4,000  feet,  of  Waring 
cable  in  use,  but  we  are  placing  some  ten  to  fifteen  miles  of 
the  same  underground  now,  as  the  first  has  given  us  very  good 
satisfaction.  The  writer  recommended  this  cable  to  this  com- 
pany very  strongly  on  account  of  its  complete  success  with  the 
Keystone  Light  and  Power  Company  of  Philadelphia,  with 
which  he  is  connected.  We  are  fully  satisfied  that  so  far  at 
least  as  high  tension  alternating  and  low  tension  direct  sys- 
tems are  concerned,  this  cable  will  be  entirely  satisfactory,  but 
we  would  lay  great  stress  upon  the  fact  that  no  underground 
system  can  be  expected  to  work  unless  the  utmost  care  be  exer- 
cised in  making  the  joints.  We  have  examined  into  a  number 
of  underground  plants  which  were  reported  as  failures,  and 
found  in  every  case  that  the  work  had  been  done  in  such  a 
slip-shod  manner  that  the  wonder  was  not  that  the  system  had 
failed,  but  that  it  had  ever  operated  at  all. 

"  Mr.  A.  P.  Wright,  of  the  Springfield,  Mass.,  Light,  Heat 
and  Power  Co.,  is  operating  an  underground  system  on  sub- 
stantially the  same  plan  as  the  Keystone  Co.  of  Philadelphia, 
and  ourselves.  I  am  not  sure  whether  he  is  using  the  same 
cable  or  not,  but  I  know  that  he  has  had  no  trouble,  and  that 
he  lays  great  stress  upon  the  making  of  the  joints  and  connec- 
tions. 

"As  to  the  cost  of  the  cable,  that  of  course  varies  with  the 
size  of  the  conductors  used.  We  lay  all  of  our  cable  here  in 
conduits  out  of  which  it  can  be  drawn  to  make  repairs.  These 
conduits  we  find  cost  us  about  $1.00  per  running  foot,  exclusive 
of  the  man-holes,  for  a  box  of  twenty  ducts  of  one  and  a  half 
inch  diameter,  made  of  prepared  wood.  The  man-holes  cost  us 
from  $50  to  $60  each." 

The  STANDARD  UNDERGROUKD  CABLE  Co.  of  Pittsburgh, 
writes  upon  the  subject: 

"  The  city  of  Philadelphia  has  laid  considerable  quantities  of 
our  lead  covered  cables  underground  for  electric  lighting. 
They  buy  the  cables,  lay  them  at  their  own  expense,  and,  of 
course,  they  are  the  pro'perty  of  the  city.  The  current  for  the 


186  UNDERGROUND      LINES. 

lamps  is  furnished  by  several  of  the  electric  light  companies 
operating  in  that  city,  the  United  States  Company,  the  Brush 
Company,  etc. 

"It  has  been  amply  demonstrated  by  practical  experience 
with  our  cables  that  it  is  entirely  feasible  to  operate  electric 
light  circuits  in  underground  cables.  As  to  the  cost  of  laying 
electric  cables  underground,  that  will  vary  according  to  the 
paving  of  the  streets,  and  kind  of  conductor  used,  and  the 
number  of  cables  placed  in  each  conduit.  The  size  of  copper 
conductor  usually  required  for  light  circuits  is  No.  3  or  No.  4 
B.  &  S.  G.  and  a  lead  cohered  cable  containing  a  single  conduc- 
tor of  that  size  would  cost  twelve  and  one-half  to  fifteen  cents 
per  foot.  A  wooden  conduit  (large  enough  for  one  cable)  from 
which  the  cables  could  be  subsequently  drawn  or  additional 
ones  put  in,  will  cost  from  twelve  to  fifteen  cents  per  foot,  and 
the  cost  of  laying  the  conduit  and  repaving  the  street  may 
vary  from  45  to  75  cents  per  foot  of  trench. 

"  This  company  is  prepared  to  furnish  its  cable,  and  guar- 
antee its  practical  working  for  electric  light  purposes.  The 
cost  of  drawing  this  cable  into  this  conduit  and  making  neces- 
sary joints  and  branches  will  run  about  eight  cents  per  foot  of 
cable." 

IN    NEW    YORK. 

In  New  York,  in  1885,  a  commission  was  established  by  act 
of  the  Legislature  to  examine  into  the  whole  question  of  plac- 
ing the  electric  light  system  in  use  in  that  city  underground, 
and  to  determine  as  to  the  most  desirable  method  to  be  adopted. 
The  commission  is  called  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Elec- 
trical Sub-ways.  This  commission  has  investigated  the  subject 
very  extensively,  and  has  had  an  opportunity  of  testing  the 
latest  and  most  improved  methods  in  use  regarding  under- 
ground systems. 

After  examining  the  diiferent  forms  of  conduits,  and  consid- 
ering the  numerous  plans  proposed,  the  conclusion  arrived  at 
was,  briefly,  to  the  effect  that  the  problem  of  removing  the 
electrical  conductors  from  the  surface  of  the  streets  and  oper- 
ating them  underground  was  rather  one  of  a  mechanical  than 
of  an  electrical  nature.  In  other  words,  it  was  found  by  the 
Commission  that  the  conduit  to  be  built  should  be  modelled 
with  an  eye  to  the  existing  engineering  difficulties  to  be  met 
in  the  streets  of  New  York,  filled,  as  they  are  in  most  instances, 
with  many  kinds  of  pipes,  contact  with  some  of  which  would 
be  dangerous,  and  deleterious  subterranean  influences,  such  as 


UNDERGROUND      LINES.  187 

gases,  escaping  steam,  salt-  water,  etc.,  which,  if  allowed  to 
come  in  contact  with  the  electrical  conductors,  would  be  of  ser- 
ious injury  to  them;  and  still  further,  to  the  convenient  plac- 
ing, repairing,  connecting,  distributing  and  removing  of  elec- 
trical conductors,  rather  than  to  the  questions  of  retardation 
and  induction  which  proper  insulation  of  the  conductors  would 
practically  obviate. 

To  follow  the  language  of  the  Commission,  "a  conduit  is 
nothing  more,  electrically  and  mechanically,  than  a  protection 
for  the  wires  within  it,  and  a  convenience  for  placing  them 
underground." 

MR.  DANIEL  L.  GIBBENS,  one  of  the  commission,  furnishes 
the  following  statement  regarding  the  underground  conduits 
now  in  use,  and  in  process  of  construction : 

"  The  material  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  conduits  was 
to  be  considered  only  as  to  its  strength  and  durability  as  a  pro- 
tector for  electric  cables.  The  practibility  of  operating  elec- 
trical conductors  underground  is  now  settled.  The  commission 
were  at  work  constructing  conduits,  and  the  result  of  their 
work  demonstrated  that  it  was  only  a  question  of  a  few  years 
when  all  the  electric  wires  in  the  city  of  New  York  would  be 
operated  underground.  The  result  of  their  experience  is,  that 
electric  wires  can  be  operated  as  cheaply  and  successfully  under- 
ground as  overhead.  The  sub-way  in  Sixth  Avenue  is  com- 
pleted for  a  distance  of  two  miles,  and  consists  of  twenty-four 
ducts,  and  cost  $60,000  a  mile.  This  is  a  drawing-in  system, 
with  frequent  man-holes,  so  that  the  wires  are  easily  reached  at 
frequent  intervals,  being  best  adapted  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  present  electrical  service." 

In  inaugurating  the  underground  system,  the  New  York 
Commission  followed  certain  principles,  which  may  be  defined 
as  follows: — 

First — A  conduit  or  subway  for  electrical  conductors  is 
nothing  more  than  a  mechanical  protection  for  the  wires  within 
it,  and  a  convenience  for  placing  them  and  protecting  them 
underground. 

Second — Electric  light  and  power  conductors  should,  as  a 
matter  of  precaution  if  not  of  necessity,  be  operated  separate- 
ly, and  as  far  as  possible  from  those  for  the  transmission  of 
currents  of  lesser  intensity. 

Third — The  material  and  form  of  the  subway  should  depend 


188  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

largely  upon  the  requirements  of  the  locality  and  the  service 
for  which  it  is  designed. 

Fourth — Drawing-in-and-out  conduits  with  convenient  man- 
holes are,  in  the  main,  the  most  desirable  for  the  streets  of  the 
city,  where  a  condition  of  the  law  allowing  the  companies 
ninety  days  to  place  their  conductors  in  the  subways  after  they 
are  constructed,  necessitates  that  the  subways  shall  be  easily 
accessible  without  serious  disturbance  to  the  pavement. 

Fifth — The  success  of  the  underground  service  depends 
largely  upon  the  proper  insulation  of  the  wires,  and  the  largest 
liberty  compatible  with  the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  others 
should  be  allowed  to  the  companies  making  use  of  the  sub- 
ways. 

Sixth — The  nature  of  local  connection  depends  to  a  great 
extent  upon  the  service  and  locality  for  which  they  are  de- 
signed, and  here  again  liberty  of  choice  under  proper  restric- 
tions may  reasonably  be  allowed. 

Proceeding  from  these  general  principles  the  board  has  con- 
structed subways  in  different  localities  largely  differing  in  de- 
sign, size  and  material.  The  work  of  the  board  has  been  done 
under  the  direction  of  its  Chief  Engineer,  Henry  S.  Kearny,  by 
a  construction  company  known  as  the  Consolidated  Telegraph 
and  Electrical  Subway  Company,  of  which  Leonard  F.  Beck- 
with  is  Chief  Engineer.  The  completed  conduits  are  the  prop- 
erty of  the  construction  company,  and  the  right  to  their  use  is 
leased  by  it  to  the  various  telegraph,  telephone,  and  electric 
light  companies.  Chief  Erigineer  BECKWITH  writes  as  follows 
upon  the  subject: 

"Several  different  systems  of  construction  have  been  adopted 
in  this  city.  The  bulk  of  the  conduits  laid  consist  of  lap 
welded  wrought  iron  pipe  with  screw  joint  couplings,  laid  in 
hydraulic  cement  concrete,  the  pipes  previously  treated  to  a 
coating  of  asphaltum;  cost  about  fifteen  cents  per  lineal  foot 
delivered  in  New  York,  the  usual  size  being  two  and  one-half 
inches  in  diameter.  Some  iron  pipe  of  the  above  description 
has  also  been  laid  in  asphaltic  concrete.  We  have  also  laid  a 
section  of  the  work  with  a  cement  pipe,  similar  to  what  has 
been  used  in  water  distribution,  and  consisting  of  a  sheet  of 
iron  covering,  lined  with  five-eighths  inch  thickness  of  pure 
cement;  and  costing  about  eleven  cents  delivered.  This  pipe 
is  laid  in  hydraulic  cement  concrete  in  the  same  way  as  iron 
pipe. 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  189 

"Another  section  has  been  laid  with  creosoted  wooden  tubes, 
costing  about  eight  cents  per  lineal  foot,  consisting  of  squared 
logs  four  by  four  inches  in  section,  eight  feet  long  and  bored 
out  with  a  two  and  one-half  inch  hole.  These  tubes  are  boxed 
together  by  creosoted  two-inch  planking  with  tarred  joints. 

"There  were  nearly  267  miles  of  single  ducts  laid  during 
1887.  The  cost  of  excavating  trenches  and  laying  conduits  is 
very  high  and  variable  in  a  city  like  New  York,  in  which  the 
ground  under  the  street  service  is  crowded  with  pipes  and  ob- 
structions of  different  kinds  and  is  not  alike  in  any  two  streets. 
It  forms  no  criterion  or  basis  for  the  cost  for  other  cities  in 
which  the  cost  should  be  much  less. 

"Access  to  the  subways  is  obtained  at  intervals  by  man- 
holes, which  we  endeavor  in  general,  to  build  five  feet  square, 
and  which  frequently  are  irregular,  owing  to  adjacent  obstruc- 
tions. All  man-holes  are  built  with  eight  inch  walls  of  North 
River  brick,  cement  concrete  bottoms,  and  the  cast-iron  street 
frame  with  double  cover.  The  inner  cover  rests  upon  a  rubber 
tubing  gasket  to  exclude  street  water.  The  inner  cover  is 
locked  so  as  to  protect  the  property  in  the  subways  from  inter- 
ference. A  section  of  'Dorsett'  conduit,  consisting  of  coal  tar 
and  sand  blocks,  was  laid  in  New  York  in  1886,  and  is  in  use 
to-day,  chiefly  for  telephone  cables. 

"Electric  light  conduits,  and  telephone  and  telegraph  conduits 
are  placed  on  opposite  sides  of  the  streets  where  they  are  both 
in  the  same  street,  in  order  to  prevent  interference  by  the  cur- 
rents as  much  as  possible.  The  conduits  laid  down  for  electric 
light  purposes  so  far  have  been  iron  pipe  laid  in  hydraulic 
cement  concrete.  The  number  of  ducts  in  the  subway  varies 
very  much.  In  one  street  we  have  104,  in  others  70,  50,  40, 
20,  six  and  even  less. 

"The  distribution  of  the  wires  from  the  subways  to  the  build- 
ings is  proposed  to  be  done  by  ducts  leading  from  the  man- 
holes to  a  basement,  and  through  a  building  to  the  rear  yards, 
where  a  pole  affords  means  of  conducting  them  to  the  rear  win- 
dows of  buildings.  Another  construction  consists  of  leading 
the  pipes  from  the  man  holes  to  a  recess  or  angle  in  the  front 
of  a  building  in  which  iron  leader  pipes  conduct  the  cables  to 
the  roof,  where,  by  some  usual  house  top  fixtures,  the  wires  are 
distributed  to  the  block. 

"Another  method  consists  in  laying  a  distribution  pipe  in 
the  subway  trench  over  the  conduit,  which  pipe  is  furnished 
with  cast-iron  hand  holes  at  intervals,  whence  service  pipes  run 
into  the  cellars  or  basements  of  buildings  adjacent. 

"The  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Co.,  for  incandescent 
lighting,  has  laid  an  extensive  system  of  their  special  tubing 
with  junction  and  distributing  boxes,  one  of  the  chief  features 
of  which  consisting  of  wires  and  insulation  filling  the  tubing,  be- 


190  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

ing  laid  at  the  same  time  as  the  latter  and  connected  in  twenty 
feet  lengths  as  laid." 

G.  McFALL,  Secretary  of  the  Brush  Electric  Illuminating 
Co.,  of  New  York,  writes: 

"We  are  not  furnishing  any  arc  lights  for  the  city  or  other- 
wise underground,  nor  are  there  any  underground  wires  in  suc- 
cessful operation  in  this  city,,  excepting  a  few  of  the  Edison 
Company  for  short  distances.  There  have  been  some  conduits 
laid  composed  of  iron  pipe,  with  the  intention  of  placing  arc 
wires  in  them,  but  up  to  the  present  time  no  system  has  been 
able  to  operate  with  any  shoio  of  success  underground.  I  do 
not  think  it  feasible  to  run  high  tension  currents  underground 
at  present  until  some  method  is  devised  by  which  a  conduit  can 
be  constructed  that  will  withstand  the  elements  of  the  earth, 
and  at  the  same  time  be  of  an  insulating  material.  I  have  had 
some  correspondence  with  various  cities  through  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  as  well  as  in  Europe,  but  to  all  communi- 
cations comes  the  same  reply — the  underground  business  for 
high  potential  currents  is  a  failure."" 

IN    WASHINGTON. 

In  Washington,  where  the  government  authorities  are  forc- 
ing the  electrical  companies  to  place  their  wires  underground, 
no  inclusive  system  has  been  suggested,  but  each  company  is 
supposed  to  adopt  such  a  plan  as  may  best  suit  its  requirements. 
The  plan  adopted  for  arc  lighting  wires  consists  of  a  wooden 
trough  in  which  insulated  conductors  are  laid  side  by  side,  the 
wires  being  separated  from  each  other  by  the  use  of  bitumin- 
ous bridges,  which  are  placed  about  eighteen  inches  apart.  The 
trough  is  then  completely  filled  with  bitumen,  making  a  solid 
insulating  mass  impervious  to  dampness.  The  distribution 
wires  are  branched  out  in  a  similar  manner.  With  a  small 
number  of  main  lines  this  operation  is  comparatively  simple. 
In  Washington,  however,  both  sides  agree  that  the  experi- 
ments have  not  been  successful. 

A.  M.  RENSHAW,  general  manager  of  the  United  States  Elec- 
tric Lighting  Company,  of  Washington,  writes  the  following 
positive  letter: 

"We  have  laid  in  this  city  during  the  last  few  years  some 
twelve  miles  of  the  Callender  cables  in  solid  asphalt  conduits, 
but  we  regret  to  report  that  it  has  proved  to  be  a  failure  and 
it  has  all  given  out,  and  is  now  abandoned. 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  191 

"We  have  lost  in  the  last  few  years  over  $20,000  in  at- 
tempting to  make  various  underground  cables  work.  We  have 
succeeded  in  making  them  answer  for  several  months,  (and  in 
one  case  eighteen  months)  but  they  gradually  give  out  and 
must  be  changed  or  abandoned.  Parties  interested  in  cables 
will  tell  you  that  it  is  perfectly  practicable  to  make  them  work, 
but  you  can  rely  upon  it  that  there  is  no  cable  in  existence  that 
will  not  (jive  out  when  steadily  subjected  to  an  arc  light  cur- 
rent of  2,000  volts. 

"We  have  brought  experts  here  from  Europe  and  spared  no 
expense  to  accomplish  a  successful  underground  system;  but 
there  is  no  place  in  the  world  that  has  ever  maintained  an  arc 
light  current  of  2,000  volts  for  a  period  of  two  years.  Better 
expend  twice  the  amount  on  building  some  overhead  conduit 
for  lines,  than  to  put  them  in  the  damp  ground  where  they  will 
always  have  trouble." 

CHARLES  W.  RAYMOND,  major  of  engineers  of  the  District 
of  Columbia  Commissioners,  writes: 

"The  underground  arc  light  system  in  Washington  has  not 
been  a  success,  whether  on  account  of  defects  in  the  conduit  or 
for  other  reasons,  we  are  not  at  present  prepared  to  say." 

IN    BROOKLYN. 

In  Brooklyn,  as  in  New  York,  an  electrical  subway  commis- 
sion has  been  established  to  investigate  the  subject,  and  deter- 
mine, if  possible,  as  to  the  best  methods  to  be  made  use  of  for 
conducting  wires  underground.  The  president  of  the  commis- 
sion, Prof.  George  W.  Plympton,  has  visited  the  principal 
cities  of  this  country  and  Europe,  and  submitted  a  report  last 
year,  giving  an  account  of  the  progress  made  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe  towards  establishing  underground  sys- 
tems. As  this  report  furnishes  the  latest  information  concern- 
ing the  underground  systems  in  foreign  cities,  it  is  presented 
here  as  a  matter  of  interest,  although  it  may  not  be  found  of 
any  special  value,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  electric  service  in 
foreign  cities,  from  the  meagerness  of  its  extent,  offers  no  com- 
parison to  that  of  the  leading  cities  of  our  own  country.  The 
report  follows: 

At  a  meeting  of  our  Board,  held  in  July  last,  it  was  deemed  desira- 
ble that  a  personal  examination  by  some  member  of  this  Board  should  be 
made  of  the  telegraph  and  telephone  systems  of  European  cities. 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  a  resolution  passed  on  the  8th  day  of 
July,  I  left  New  York  for  Liverpool  on  the  21st  of  that  month,  arriving 


192  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

in  Liverpool  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  and  reaching  London  on  the 
evening  of  the  same  day. 

Some  letters  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Preece.  the  electrician  of  the  Brit- 
ish Postal  Telegraphic  service,  secured  for  me  the  cordial  and  polite  atten- 
tion of  the  chief  himself,  and  the  very  efficient  aid  of  the  officials  in 
charge  of  special  departments  of  the  service.  No  extensions  or  repairs 
of  the  lines  were  in  progress  at  the  date  of  my  call,  but  I  was  invited  to 
examine  the  construction  of  the  conduit  pipes  and  the  cables  they  con- 
tained, so  far  as  they  were  accessible  at  the  "working  boxes,"  or  •"•  man- 
holes "  as  they  would  be  called  in  America.  Accompanied  by  Mr.  Fleet- 
wood,  an  electrician  of  the  postal  service,  I  examined  several  of  these 
"  boxes,"  which  had  been  opened  by  his  order  for  the  purpose. 

The  covers  are  fitted  very  tight,  and  are  flush  with  the  pavement  of 
the  sidewalk.  In  two  instances  the  workmen  failed  in  their  attempts  to 
pry  them  off.  The  ' '  boxes  "  are  shallow,  scarcely  two  feet  deep,  and  only 
sixteen  by  twenty-four  inches  in  lateral  dimensions.  The  conduit  pipes 
are  of  cast-iron,  and  mostly  of  three  inches  in  diameter.  Into  these 
pipes  the  insulated  wires,  in  a  loose  bundle,  are  drawn;  gutta  percha  is 
the  only  insulating  material  used.  The  wires  are  for  telegraphic  service 
almost  exclusively;  only  a  few  telephone  wires,  and  these  for  the  use  of 
the  post-office,  are  under  the  pavements.  Telephonic  communication  in 
London  is  furnished  by  the  system  of  the  United  Telephone  Company, 
whose  wires  are  all  supported  overhead  by  house-top  fixtures.  The  right 
to  erect  the  fixtures  is  purchased  of  the  owner  of  the  property. 

Experience  with  underground  telegraph  lines  is  not  new  in  England. 
Before  1845  such  lines  were  placed  underground,  but  they  soon  failed, 
and  pole  lines  were  substituted.  Again,  in  1853,  the  Magnetic  Company 
of  England  laid  wires  for  telegraphic  purposes  in  creosoted  wood,  buried 
two  feet  in  the  earth.  The  insulation  gradually  failed,  and  again  the 
system  was  replaced  by  one  of  poles. 

A  section  of  the  conduit  used  at  this  time  was  shown  me  by  Mr. 
Preece.  It  was  a  trough-shaped  block,  about  four  inches  wide,  and  per- 
fectly sound,  although  it  had  lain  buried  at  shallow  depth  more  than 
thirty  years.  Iron  pipes  are  now  preferred,  solely  because  of  the  pro- 
tection they  afford  against  the  blows  of  pick-axes  and  shovels  of  careless 
workmen — a  protection  which  seemingly  might  have  been  secured  by  a 
heavier  conduit  of  timber.  Mr.  Preece  said  he  knew  of  no  case  of  decay 
of  well-creosoted  timber. 

From  London  I  went  direct  to  Brussels,  where  I  arrived  on  the  2d  of 
August.  To  Messrs.  James  F.  Meech  and  George  Cutter,  both  of  the 
International  Electric  Company,  I  am  indebted  for  much  valuable  aid  in 
getting  desired  information.  These  gentlemen  are  engaged  in  superin- 
tending the  erection  of  the  Thomson-Houston  system  of  arc  lighting. 
Their  operations  during  the  present  year  have  extended  as  far  east  as 
Russia,  north  to  Sweden  and  Scotland,  and  south  to  Italy. 

The  acting  superintendent  of  the  telephone  service  in  Brussels  is  Mr. 
E.  Bartelyou,  who  kindly  gave  me  the  details  of  the  system.  The  wire 
used  is  a  phosphor-bronze  wire,  of  1  4-10  millimeter  diameter  (or  about 
No.  17  gauge).  Its  strength  admits  of  long  distances  between  the  sup- 
ports, which  are  all  on  the  house-tops  (no  wires  of  any  kind  are  under- 
ground in  Brussels).  In  a  few  places  there  was  a  clear  space  of  270 
meters,  or  885  feet  between  the  supports.  No  stretching  or  breaking  had 
occurred  in  these  long  stretches,  although  the  wires  had  been  in  place  for 
three  years. 

The  managing  director  of  this  company  is  Mr.  DeGroot,  whose  prin- 
cipal office  is  in  Antwerp.  As  I  had  brought  letters  of  introduction 
from  personal  friends  of  Mr.  DeGroot  in  New  York,  and  as  the  fran- 
chises of  his  company  include  the  telephone  systems  of  Brussels,  Ant- 
werp, Stockholm,  Milan  and  Turin,  I  went  on  to  Antwerp  without  de- 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  193 

lay.  All  my  inquiries  regarding  electric  systems  in  the  above  cities  were 
kindly  answered.  All  wires  of  all  kinds  in  the  above-mentioned  cities, 
whether  for  telegraph,  telephone  or  electric  lighting,  are  above  ground. 
In  the  northern  cities  they  are  on  the  house-tops,  and  in  Italy  partly  on 
the  house-tops  and  partly  upon  brackets  along  tbe  sides  of  the  buildings. 
Two  exceptions  to  this  general  rule  were  mentioned.  One  was  a  short 
circuit  for  electric  lighting  on  the  Edison  (incandescent)  system  buried  in 
Turin,  and  the  other  was  a  new  line  of  telephone  wires  supported  on 
poles  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Antwerp. 

1  lights  to  erect  fixtures  on  house-tops  are  purchased,  as  in  England. 
The  price  in  Belgian  cities  is  about  50  centimes  (10  cents)  per  wire  per 
annum.  The  more  recent  supports  for  wires  are  of  wrought  iron;  and 
are  of  somewhat  ornamental  design.  The  overhead  wires  are  thickly 
clustered  in  some  portions  of  Antwerp  and  Brussels,  but  being  of  smaller 
diameter,  are  not  so  unsightly  as  the  same  number  would  appear  in 
American  cities. 

I  went  on  into  Germany  on  the  6th  of  August,  making  brief  stops  at 
Cologne,  Wiesbaden,  Frankfort  and  Heidelberg.  Telephones  are  not 
much  used  in  these  cities,  only  500  in  Cologne,  464  in  Wiesbaden,  430  in 
Frankfort,  and  less  than  100  in  Heidelberg.  All  the  wires  for  these  sys- 
tems are  supported  overhead,  on  house-top  fixtures  of  rather  rude  pat- 
terns. Tue  military  telegraph  is  underground.  All  others  are  in  the  air. 
In  Germany,  as  in  "England,  the  buried  systems  were  tried  early.  The 
tirsf  ones  failed  at  once.  Upon  the  discovery  of  the  insulating  qualities 
of  gutta  percha  by  Dr.  Werner  Siemens,  in  1846,  new  experiments  were 
tried  with  underground  systems.  A  line  of  four  or  five  miles  in  length 
was  laid  between  Berlin  and  Gros  Beeren  in  1847.  As  this  appeared  to 
be  successful,  the  experiments  were  continued  until  more  than  3.000 
miles  of  gutta-percha  covered  wire  had  been  buried  in  the  ground.  This 
worked  well  for  a  few  years,  but  finally  failed  entirely,  and  a  line  on 
poles  was  substituted  for  it. 

The  telegraph  wires  now  buried  in  Germany  are  in  bundles  forming 
cables,  known  as  Siemens'  cable,  each  wire  being  separately  insulated, 
and  the  whole  protected  by  a  spirally-wound  heavy  wire,  which  shields 
the  conductors  from  ordinary  injuries.  It  is  an  expensive  cable,  and  is 
better  adapted  for  the  military  service,  for  which  it  is  chiefly  employed, 
than  for  the  wants  of  a  commercial  community.  That  its  use  is  thus 
restricted  in  Germany  is  pretty  well  indicated  by  the  fact  that  wires  on 
poles  stretch  along  every  mile  of  railway  throughout  the  empire. 

I  arrived  in  Berlin  on  the  9th  of  August.  As  telegraph,  telephone 
and  two  kinds  of  electric  lighting  systems  are  used  in  the  city,  I  sought 
information  at  several  points.  The  telephone  used  here  is  a  German  in- 
vention, differing  somewhat  from  the  familiar  Bell  pattern,  and  declared 
to  be  unsatisfactory  by  those  who  were  accustomed  to  the  latter. 

Both  the  telegraph  and  telephone  systems  belong  to  the  govern- 
ment. The  telephone  wires  are  carried  on  house-tops  upon  light  iron  fix- 
tures, much  like  those  in  Belgium.  The  house-owner  is  paid  an  assessed 
compensation  for  the  occupation  of  his  premises,  but  he  is  obliged  to 
submit  to  it. 

An  electric  lighting  company  have  buried  cables  along  several  streets  of 
the  city.  The  engineer  of  the  company  gave  me  the  following  list  of 
rules  imposed  by  the  Imperial  Government  upon  their  work  in  the 
streets : 

The  electric  light  cable  must  be  enclosed  in  an  iron  pipe  whenever  it 
is  buried  within  one  meter  of  and  parallel  to  a  telegraph  cable. 

In  case  of  the  crossing  of  the  two  systems,  the  electric  light  cable 
must  beat  least  45  centimeters  (17.7  inches)  distant  and  above  the  tele- 
graph; and,  moreover,  must  be  covered  with  an  iron  pipe  for  at  least  two 
meters  each  way  from  the  point  of  nearest  approach. 


194  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

Whenever  an  electric  light  conductor  is  laid  in  a  street  where  there  is 
no  buried  telegraph,  such  conductor  is  to  be  placed  under  the  sidewalk, 
but  at  least  two  meters  from  the  house  line. 

I  visited  the  Siemens'  establishment,  but  was  unable  to  meet  Dr.  Sie- 
mens, to  whom  I  had  a  note  of  introduction.  He  was  out  of  town.  The 
manager  of  the  works  in  the  city  kindly  offered  to  answer  my  inquiries, 
and  to  act  as  interpreter  in  an  interview  with  their  engineer.  In  course 
of  the  conversation,  on  two  separate  occasions,  I  was  told  that  although 
they  knew  of  the  questions  arising  in  America,  regarding  the  safe  limit 
of  proximity  of  wires  for  different  kinds  of  electric  service,  they  were 
not  prepared  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  subject.  They  knew  of  no  ex- 
periments with  the  quadruplex  telegraph,  and  the  high  tension  alternating 
currents  for  arc  lights  were  not  regarded  with  much  favor,  and  were  not 
in  use  in  Berlin. 

It  was  understood  that  the  government  telegraph  officers  had  been  try- 
ing some  experiments  bearing  upon  the  solution  of  these  questions,  but 
with  what  result  was  not  known. 

From  Berlin  I  went  south,  arriving  at  Munich  on  the  13th  of  August. 
An  official  at  the  telegraph  station  connected  with  the  post-office  ia formed 
me  that  all  the  lines  were  on  the  house-tops.  The  number  of  telephone 
subscribers  was  730.  The  Morse  system  of  telegraphy  was  used  and  the 
German  telephone. 

In  Lucerne,  my  next  resting  place,  the  telephone  is  but  sparingly  used. 
Wires  are  upon  light  fixtures  on  house-tops. 

In  Milan,  where  I  arrived  late  on  the  16th  of  August,  I  was  fortunate 
in  meeting  Mr.  Strugnell,  an  electrician  of  the  International  Electric 
Lighting  Company,  who  at  once  interested  himself  in  the  object  of  my 
visit,  and  rendered  important  service.  Milan  has  about  800  telephone 
subscribers.  All  the  wires  are  above  ground,  a  large  proportion  of  them 
being  under  the  eaves,  attached  to  bracket  fixtures.  The  reason  for  this 
departure  from  the  common  European  practice  is  found  in  the  triple  sys- 
tem of  tiling  on  the  roots. 

The  Edison,  the  Siemens  and  the  Thomson-Houston  systems  of  elec- 
tric lighting  are  all  in  use,  with  overhead  wires  only,  and  seem  likely  to 
extend  rapidly.  Some  complaints  had  just  been  made  against  the  Thom- 
son-Houston system,  on  account  of  induction  effects  due  to  its  high  ten- 
sion current. 

An  effective  system  of  street  lighting  is  in  practice  here.  Arc  lights 
of  good  intensity  are  suspended  over  the  middle  of  the  street  from  high 
brackets  attached  to  the  buildings  on  both  sides. 

I  visited  Venice  and  Turin,  but  found  no  features  essentially  differ- 
ent from  those  at  Milan.  The  systems  of  all  kinds  were  only  of  less  ex- 
tent. 

I  reached  Paris  on  the  21st  of  August.  Having  letters  to  M.  Berthon, 
the  well  known  electrician  and  inventor,  I  went  directly  to  the  offices  of 
the  telephone  company  in  Rue  Caumartin.  I  was  cordially  received,  and 
invited  to  ask  as  many  questions  as  I  liked.  In  response  to  my  inquiries 
M.  Berthon  gave  me,  in  substance,  the  following  information: 

There  were  in  Paris  at  that  date  about  4,400  telephone  subscribers, 
and  about  2,200  in  all  the  rest  of  France.  In  Paris  telephone  wires  are 
made  up  into  small  cables  and  conducted  through  the  sewers,  being  held 
in  place'  by  small  hooks,  the  shanks  of  which  are  driven  into  the  masonry 
joints.  If  the  sewer  ends  before  the  destination  of  the  telephone  cable 
is  reached,  the  cable  is  immediately  run  up  to  the  house-top  and  conveyed 
overhead,  as  in  other  European  cities.  In  other  French  cities  the  wires 
are  all  above  ground,  except  in  Bordeaux,  where  400  subscribers  are 
served  through  a  system  drawn  through  iron  pipes  underground,  but  at 
the  date  of  my  visit  the  system  was  not  working  very  well.  Two  hun- 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  195 

dred  of  the  Paris  subscribers  are  reached  by  wires  above  the  houses,  be- 
cause there  are  no  large  sewers  in  which  to  suspend  the  wires. 

No  electric  lighting  wires  are  permitted  in  the  sewers.  Indeed,  there 
are  but  few  electric  street  lights  in  Paris.  There  are  less  Jhan  there  were 
five  years  ago,  and  what  there  are,  are  all  overhead. 

In  both  London  and  Paris  all  arc  lights  are  within  short  distances  of 
the  current  generator,  which  is  generally  a  dynamo,  driven  by  a  gas-en- 
gine. 

31.  Berthon  expected  his  company  would  undertake  the  telephone  ser- 
vice for  the  principal  cities  of  Spain.  He  proposed  to  exact  as  a  con- 
dition the  right  to  carry  the  conductors  upon  the  house-tops,  employing 
a  metallic  telephone  circuit,  and  cables  of  a  small  number  of  wires  in 
each. 

In  traversing  the  sewer  under  the  Avenue  de  1'Opera  I  found  two 
groups  of  telephone  conductors,  of  twelve  cables  in  each  group,  fastened 
securely  to  the  arched  top  of  the  sewer,  while  brackets  on  the  sides  sup- 
ported a  pipe  carrying  telegraph  cables,  a  gas  pipe  of  six  inches  and  a 
water-pipe  of  sixteen  inches  diameter.  When  the  telegraph  cables  reach 
the  end  of  a  sewer  they  are  continued  on  underground  in  three-inch  iron 
pipe. 

Leaving  Paris  on  the  25th  of  August,  and  spending  two  days  in  Lon- 
don to  make  some  further  observations  upon  lines  in  the  suburbs,  I  con- 
tinued on  to  Newcastle.  This  city  enjoys  the  reputation  of  having 
buried  almost  its  entire  system  of  telegraph  and  telephone  wires.  The 
telephone  service  is  not  very  extensive,  as  the  number  of  subscribers  is 
not  quite  600,  and  is  increasing  but  slowly,  some  25  to  30  between  Janu- 
ary and  August.  Nearly  all  the  subscribers,  moreover,  are  within  a  cir- 
cuit of  a  half-mile  radius. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Heavyside  I  was  permitted  to  examine, 
in  company  with  an  inspector,  the  central  office  and  the  entire  system  of 
distribution. 

The  arrangement  of  conduits  and  street  "boxes"  (corresponding  to 
our  man-holes)  is  much  like  that  in  London.  The  boxes  are  10  inches  by 
26,  the  pipes  entering  at  the  narrow  end.  Pipes  of  2,  3  and  4  inches  in 
diameter  are  employed.  When  the  number  of  wires  in  any  pipe  is  to  be 
increased,  the  entire  contents  of  the  pipe  are  drawn  out  and  the  new  lot 
drawn  in.  The  wire  used  is  No.  18  copper  wire,  with  a  wound  covering, 
whose  outside  dimensions  are  those  of  No.  7  gauge. 

The  wires  are  bound  together  in  sets  of  four,  the  pair  which  form  the 
circuit  being  twisted  together  with  much  care,  to  avoid  induction  from 
the  neighboring  pair. 

As  prominent  electricians  have  expressed  the  opinion  that,  when  a 
metallic  telephone  circuit  is  employed,  the  limit  of  distance  of  telephone 
communication  underground  is  about  10  or  12  miles,  I  was  quite  desirous 
of  testing  the  question.  The  privilege  was  cheerfully  granted.  A  line 
was  connected  for  my  use,  that  extended  through  12£  miles  of  under- 
ground wire,  and  continued  thence  over  a  pole  line  of  38  miles  further; 
an  entire  length  of  50£  miles.  The  result  was  satisfactory  in  every  way. 
During  a  conversation  of  several  minutes  there  was  no  call  for  a  repeti- 
tion of  a  word. 

The  telephone  service  of  Newcastle  is  certainly  good,  but  to  enlarge 
it  to  meet  the  requirements  of  an  American  city  would  demand  extensive 
modifications;  not  only  the  greater  extent,  but  the  frequent  changes  of 
our  telephone  service  would  completely  transform  the  problem. 

Time  did  not  permit  a  stop  at  Manchester.  I  had  learned  that  some 
preliminary  steps  had  been  taken  to  bury  the  wires  in  that  city,  but  it 
was  evident,  from  such  inspection  as  I  was  able  to  make,  that  the  aerial 
system  is  still  quite  extensive.  There  has  been  as  yet,  I  believe,  na 
burial  of  wires  in  Liverpool. 


196  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

My  journey  in  Europe,  of  thirty- four  days  duration  and  four  thousand 
miles  in  extent,  ended  on  the  1st  of  September  at  Liverpool. 

Asa  summary  of  the  observations  made  during  this  short  tour  the 
following  are  offered  as  conclusions  fairly  drawn  from  the  information 
obtained: 

The  problem  of  construction  of  a  telephone  system  on  such  a  scale  as 
exists  in  American  cities  with  underground  wires  has  not  yet  been  solved 
abroad.  In  Europe  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  solve  it,  because  as  yet 
there  is  no  such  general  use  of  the  telephone.  The  number  of  tele- 
phones in  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  reported  on  January 
last,  was  13,000,  while  in  the  United  States  at  the  same  date  there  were 
163,500.  There  are  more  telephones  in  use  in  New  York  City  and  Brook- 
lyn than  in  all  Great  Britain;  more  in  New  York  City  alone  than  in  all 
France. 

For  the  accomplishment  of  the  ultimate  object  of  converting  our 
overhead  electric  systems  of  all  kinds  to  the  underground  systems,  with- 
out impairing  the  efficiency  of  their  service,  without  permanent  injury 
to  our  streets,  and  without  increasing  the  cost  of  the  service,  so  as  to 
prevent  the  use  of  the  same,  we  must  depend  upon  the  experience  gained 
and  experiments  made  on  our  own  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Prof.  Plympton  writes  from  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  Insti- 
stitute: 

"  I  have  been  expecting  some  definite  information  in  regard  to  the  un" 
derground  system  in  Philadelphia.     I  received  a  communication  last  nigh 
from  the  expected  source,  but  it  was  not  sufficiently  positive  in  its  char- 
acter to  allow  me  to  base  any  strong  hopes  upon  it  of  a  speedy  solution 
of  the  arc  lighting  problem. 

"A  system  of  arc  lighting  through  Waring  cables  (or  lead-cased  con- 
ductors) is  under  trial  in  Philadelphia.  Accounts  of  the  results  obtained 
are  conflicting.  Nothing  has  been  done  yet  in  this  way  in  either  New 
York  or  Brooklyn. 

"  Regarding  underground  conductors  for  arc  lights  I  can  only  say  that 
the  question  of  its  practicability  is,  in  my  opinion,  not  yet  settled.  We 
decided  long  ago  that  we  would  not  allow  arc  light  wires  in  the  same 
conduit  with  telephone  wires,  nor  would  we  allow  them  to  come  into  the 
same  man-hole  for  purposes  of  distribution.  No  arc  light  wires  are  yet 
underground  in  Brooklyn.  From  the  best  information  we  can  obtain  it 
would  seem  that  to  force  the  arc  lights  underground  upon  any  plan  yet 
suggested  would  subject  the  plant  to  an  even  chance  of  destruction 
within  two  or  three  years.  Still,  I  think  the  problem  will  eventually  be 
solved" 

The  last  annual  report  of  the  Brooklyn  Board  contains  con- 
siderable discussion  of  the  underground  question.  The  Board 
says:  • 

"  The  experience  of  the  year  has  confirmed  the  previous 
opinion  of  the  Board  as  to  the  material  and  plan  of  construc- 
tion of  subways  heretofore  approved  by  it  for  telegraph  and 
telephone  conductors.  The  systems  introduced  in  other  cities 
do  not  seem  to  present  any  points  of  superiority,  when  all  con- 
ditions are  taken  into  account,  and  in  several  respects  are  de- 
cidedly inferior  to  the  system  adopted  by  this  Board.  Practice 
has  shown,  however,  that  the  conductors  first  laid  in  the  Brook- 


UNDERGROUND     LI  197 

lyn  subways  require  improvement.  They  have  been  found 
inadequate,  for  electrical  reasons,  beyond  a  distance  of  about 
7,000  feet. 

"  The  conduit  approved  by  this  Board  permits  the  removal 
or  renewal  of  conductors  without  excavation,  and  if  the  facts 
now  developed  by  experience  shall  require  the  substitution  of 
new  conductors  in  any  part  of  the  subway  system,  the  ease 
with  which  this  can  DC  done  justifies  the  rejection  by  this 
Board,  in  the  beginning,  of  all  '  solid  conduits '  not  permitting 
such  changes. 

"  The  precise  change  of  conductors  now  contemplated  is  the 
use  in  future  (and  probably,  to  some  extent,  the  substitution 
in  present  underground  lines)  of  a  heavier  copper  wire,  con- 
taining about  twice  as  much  metal,  and  requiring  about  twice 
the  thickness  of  insulating  material.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  use  of  complete  metallic  circuits  (instead  of  'grounded  cir- 
cuits/ employing  the  earth  for  the  return  current)  will  ulti- 
mately become  necessary.  These  contingencies  were  apparent 
to  the  Board  when  it  approved  the  present  underground  sys- 
tem ;  and  the  electrical  companies  were  fully  advised  of  their 
possible  occurrence.  In  view,  however,  of  the  increased  ex- 
pense to  the  companies  involved  in  the  use  of  twice  or  even 
four  times  the  quantity  of  metal  and  of  insulating  material 
required  per  subscriber,  and  the  possible  success  of  the  cheaper 
grounded  circuits  and  lighter  wires,  the  Board  simply  notified 
the  companies  at  that  time  that  the  underground  system  could 
not  be  pronounced  impracticable  by  reason  of  any  defects 
which  the  above-mentioned  improvements  would  remove,  and 
that  they  would  have  to  adopt  these  improvements,  if  neces- 
sary to  the  operation  of  a  subway  system.  The  introduction 
of  heavier  wires,  and  even  of  metallic  circuit,  will  not  affect 
the  existing  conduits,  except  by  reducing  their  capacity,  as 
measured  in  the  length  of  conductor  contained,  and  the  num- 
ber of  subscribers  served. 

"Among  the  questions  which  need  further  study,  that  of 
electric  light  conductors  is  one  of  the  most  important.  After 
the  organization  of  the  Board,  the  electric  lighting  companies 
declared  that  they  had  no  plan  to  propose  for  putting  such 
wires  underground.  This  made  it  the  duty  of  the  Board  to 
devise  such  a  plan,  if  possible.  The  subject  has  been  studied 
with  care,  but  not  as  yet  with  the  necessary  completeness. 

"With  regard  to  the  electric  light  conductors,  the  Board 
has  found  no  device  which  would  with  certainty,  in  its  opinion, 
enable  the  wires  carrying  arc-light  currents  to  be  safely  and 
successfully  operated  in  the  same  conduit  with  telephone  and 
telegraph  conductors  without  disturbance  or  injury  of  the  lat- 
ter. Hence  the  consideration  of  the  arc-light  conductors  must 
have  reference  to  independent  conduits  kept  at  a  distance  from 


198  UNDERGEOUND     LINES. 

the  telegraph  and  telephone  conduits.  The  following  points 
are  suggested,  and  their  number  might  be  increased  : 

"  1.  It  is  a  question  to  what  extent  the  arc-light  currents, 
especially  those  of  certain  systems,  involving  very  high  poten- 
tials, or  so-called  alternating  currents,  can  be  successfully 
maintained  in  insulated  conductors  underground.  As  will  be 
seen  i«  the  report  of  the  President  of  the  Board,  herewith 
transmitted,  this  problem  has  not  been  solved,  or  even  at- 
tempted in  practice  abroad.  The  foremost  practical  electri- 
cians of  Europe  have  simply  avoided  it.  To  discuss  such  mat- 
ters technically  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  report ;  but  the 
Board  desires  to  say  emphatically  that  those  fluent  critics  who 
talk  of  putting  electric-light  conductors  underground,  making 
no  distinction  beticeen  are  lights  and  incandescent  lights,  or  be- 
tween the  arc  lights  of  different  systems,  are  ignorant  of  the 
alphabet  of  the  subject. 

"  2.  If  it  should  prove,  upon  thorough  and  unbiased  investi- 
gation, that  some  electric  light  conductors  can  be  successfully 
operated  underground,  while  others  cannot,  the  result  of  an 
imperative  order  in  this  direction  would  be  to  drive  out  of  the 
city  the  systems  which  could  not  go  underground.  But  some 
systems,  of  which  this  might  prove  to  be  true,  are  among  the 
best  in  all  other  respects.  The  characteristically  American 
'  alternating  current '  for  instance,  is  asserted  to  give  a  more 
uniform  light  than  any  other.  Before  enforcing  such  distinc- 
tions among  the  different  competing  systems,  the  Board  must 
have  better  opportunity  to  judge  and,  to  that  end,  opportunity 
to  examine  and  test. 

"  It  has  been  a  question  whether,  and  in  what  circumstances, 
the  electric  light  companies  employed  to  light  the  streets  under 
contract  with  the  city  could  be  legally  obliged  by  the  Board 
to  place  their  wires  underground.  This  question  has  never 
been  a  pressing  one,  because  the  Board,  not  having  devised  a 
practicable  system  to  include  such  wires,  could  not  issue  such 
an  order,  if  it  had  the  right.  This  raises  for  the  consideration 
of  the  Board  another  question,  viz.: 

"  If  the  city  authorities  have  made  contracts  at  a  certain 
price  for  lighting  the  streets,  could  this  Board  properly  impose 
upon  the  contractors  an  underground  system  which,  though 
technically  practicable,  was  financially  impracticable,  under 
the  terms  of  the  contract;  that  is  to  say,  would  inevitably 
force  either  the  abandonment  of  the  contract  or  the  payment 
of  a  higher  price  by  the  city.  This  would  certainly  bring  the 
Board  into  an  undesirable  and  mischievous  attitude  of  conflict 
with  the  city  authorities.  Although  the  letter  of  the  statute 
*  *  leaves  the  wires  of  the  contractors  subject  to  the 
authority  of  the  Board,  the  spirit  of  the  law  evidently  is,  that 
the  city  shall  not,  by  the  action  of  the  Board,  be  involved  in 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  199 

expense  or  liability  before  its  constituted  authorities  shall  have 
f uily  considered  the  subject  of  proposed  changes,  and  appro- 
priated the  money  to  make  them.  *  *  *  If  the  Board,  by 
dictating  certain  conditions  to  contractors,  should  force  upon 
the  city  the  alternative  of  either  giving  up  its  experiment  in 
electric  lighting  of  the  streets,  or  paying  a  much  larger  sum 
for  that  service,  the  practical  effect  would  be  the  same  as  if 
the  Board  had  ordered  the  city  to  give  up  its  fire  and  police 
telegraph,  or  else  put  them  underground  at  great  expense. 
Furthermore,  it  is  conceivable  that  such  an  order  as  to  con- 
tractor's wires  might  leave  the  city  practically  no  alternative 
at  all  but  to  return  to  gas.  In  that  case,  the  question  would 
arise,  whether  this  result  would  serve  the  public  interest;  and 
it  would  be  a  fair  inquiry  in  that  connection,  whether  the  citi- 
zens of  a  given  locality  would  rather  bear  the  nuisance  of  over- 
head wires  than  go  without  the  electric  light. 

"  None  of  the  foregoing  suggested  questions  have  been  com- 
pletely solved  by  the  Board.  The  practicability  and  cost  of 
an  underground  system  of  electric  light  conductors;  the  exact 
differences  in  these  respects  among  different  systems  employing 
different  intensities  and  character  of  currents,  and  the  manner 
in  which,  without  injury  to  the  public  interest,  a  change  to  un- 
derground conductors  can  be  made,  must  be  determined  by 
further  study,  and  in  part  by  tests  and  experiments,  such  as 
the  Board  has  been  unable  to  make. 

"  The  Board  is  resolved  that  it  will  not  stultify  itself  and 
bring  ridicule  upon  the  law  and  its  beneficent  purpose  by  order- 
ing things  to  be  done,  of  the  practicability  of  which  it  is  not 
reasonably  assured;  that  it  will  seek  to  carry  out  the  reform 
intrusted  to  its  charge,  in  harmony  with  the  city  authorities, 
with  the  intelligent  desires  of  citizens,  and  with  the  business 
interests  of  the  city,  and  that  it  will  not  be  moved  from  this 
course  by  hasty  and  ill-informed  criticisms." 

The  Commission  concludes  its  report: 

"  The  problem  appears  to  be  solved  for  this  city,  so  far  as 
telephone  and  telegraph  lines  are  concerned.  With,  regard  to 
the  electric  light  wires,  the  JBoard  is  not  prepared  to  report  at 
present. 

Prof.  Plympton  read  the  following  paper  before  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers,  May  16,  1888,  on 

"UNDERGROUND    ELECTRICAL  CONDUCTORS  IN    EUROPE  AND  AMERICA." 

The  problems  of  construction  of  underground  systems  of  electrical 
conduction  will  have  been  solved  when  the  telephone  and  the  arc  light 
systems  are  both  buried  under  our  streets  without  impairing  the  efficiency 
or  durability  of  either. 


200  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

By  this  I  mean  that  all  the  difficulties  encountered  in  burying  conduc- 
tors are  involved  in  converting  telephone  and  arc  light  from  aerial  to  un- 
derground systems.  Telegraph  lines  and  systems  of  incandescent  lighting 
present  fewer  difficulties  in  the  process  of  burying,  and  none  of  a  kind 
not  met  with  in  dealing  with  the  systems  first  mentioned. 

The  telephone  problem  is  substantially  solved.  Some  details  only  re- 
main to  be  settled,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  best  size  of  con- 
ductor, the  most  serviceable  insulation  and  the  maximum  distance  of  ef- 
fective service  for  either  grounded  or  metallic  circuits. 

In  Brooklyn  the  general  plan  adopted  is  that  of  a  conduit  divided  into 
ducts  through  which  cables  containing  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  wires 
are  drawn.  The  material  of  the  conduit  is  for  the  most  part  creosoted 
wood.  About  ten  miles  of  this  is  already  in  use  in  our  city,  and  about 
four  and  a  half  miles  of  the  Dorsett  concrete  conduit.  For  the  extensions 
of  the  underground  systems  for  the  present  year,  only  creosoted  timber 
is  to  be  used. 

Among  the  lessons  learned  from  our  experience  are:  1st.  That  in  creo- 
soted conduits  the  use  of  cables  covered  with  kerite,  or  any  similar  rubber 
or  gutta  percha  compound,  must  be  avoided.  3d.  That  in  the  so-called 
lead  covered  cables,  the  use  of  pure  lead  is  also  to  be  avoided,  as  it  is 
slowly  converted  into  a  porous  and  friable  lead  carbonate.  An  alloy  of 
lead  with  five  or  six  per  cent,  of  tin  seems  to  resist  the  destructive  action. 
3d.  That  the  conducting  wire  first  used  is  too  small  for  satisfactory  tele- 
phone service.  The  difficulties  of  induction  and  retardation  led  to  com- 
plaints as  soon  as  4,000  or  5,000  feet  of  underground  wire  was  put  in  ser- 
vice. The  cables  that  are  now  being  put  in  are  made  up  of  wires  whose 
cross  section  is  greater  by  one-third  than  that  of  the  first  wire,  and  they 
are  protected  by  twice  the  thickness  of  insulation. 

I  mention  the  above  conclusions  as  having  been  drawn  from  our  own 
experience  in  Brooklyn. 

In  commencing  our  work  we  gathered  such  information  as  could  be 
gleaned  from  localities  where  solutions  of  the  problem  had  already  been 
attempted.  The  impression  so  largely  prevailed  that  in  Europe  all  tele- 
phone and  telegraph  conductors  were  underground  that  our  Board  decided 
that  a  personal  inspection  of  European  systems  should  be  made  by  one 
of  our  number.  The  duty  devolved  upon  me.  The  result  of  my  inquiry 
has  been  published  in  the  scientific  papers. 

I  will  briefly  refer  to  a  few  of  the  incidents.  (Professor  Plympton  here 
gave  an  epitome  of  the  third  annual  report  of  Brooklyn  Subway  Com- 
mission, which  embodied  his  observations). 

In  regard  to  the  burial  of  the  arc  light  wires  1  can  only  say  that  no 
method  yet  tried  seems  certain  of  success.  Most  of  them  certainly  insure 
the  destruction  of  the  underground  conductors  in  from  one  to  three 
years.  But  I  have  no  doubt  that  a  solution  of  the  problem  will  soon  be 
reached,  although  the  system  will  be  kept  apart  from  the  telephone  and 
telegraph  subway. 

It  does  not  seem  likely  that  arc  light  conductors  will  be  allowed  in  the 
same  conduit  with  telephone  wires,  nor  will  they  be  distributed  from  the 
same  manholes. 

In  saying  that,  I  believe  that  a  solution  of  the  problem  will  soon  be 
found.  I  do  not  mean  to  assert  that  casualties  like  that  recently  recorded 
of  a  man  in  the  Bowery,  who  lost  his  life  by  grasping  the  naked  wire 
close  to  an  arc  lamp,  can  be  prevented  by  any  system  of  burying  wires. 
To  prevent  such  accidents  (if  that  is  the  term  to  be  used)  the  arc  lights 
must  be  buried  with  the  wires. 

All  past  experience  teaches  us  to  proceed  cautiously.  Nothing  can  now 
permanently  check  the  growth  of  the  telephone,  the  telegraph  or  the 
electric  light.  They,  have  become  necessities  of  our  civilization,  and  any 
hasty  or  ill-advised  enforcement  of  the  law  to  convert  all  aerial  to  under- 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  201 

ground  systems  which  should  result  in  serious  injury  to  them,  would 
prove  the  surest  way  to  perpetuate  the  nuisances  of  overhead  wires  and 
poles  in  the  streets. 

IN    BOSTON. 

The  subject  of  laying  electric  wires  underground  came 
prominently  before  the  Boston  Council  in  1886,  when  the  New 
England  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company,  and  the  Edison 
Electric  Light  Company  asked  leave  to  lay  their  wires  under- 
ground in  some  of  the  principal  business  streets  of  the  city. 
The  Committee  on  Underground  Wires  gave  two  hearings  to 
the  parties  petitioning,  and  there  were  present  some  of  the 
most  expert  electricians  in  Boston,  representing  the  different 
telegraph,  telephone,  and  electric-light  companies.  Much  valu- 
able information  was  obtained  at  these  hearings,  although,  as 
might  be  expected,  there  was  considerable  divergence  of 
opinion  among  the  electricians.  While  some  of  those  present 
were  of  the  opinion  that  both  telephone  and  incandescent 
electric-light  wires  could  be  successfully  operated  underground, 
there  were  others  who  held  an  opposite  view,  and  this  was 
more  particularly  the  case  among  the  representatives  of  the 
telegraph  companies.  It  was  generally  contended  that  the  arc- 
light  wires  could  not  be  successfully  or  safely  operated  under- 
ground, owing  to  the  intensity  of  their  electric  current,  and  the 
attendant  dangers  to  life  and  property  that  would  arise  in  case 
of  imperfect  insulation.  It  was  also  claimed  that  the  great 
intensity  of  the  arc-light  wires  would  seriously  disturb  the 
working  of  the  telegraph  or  telephone  wires  that  might  be  laid 
in  their  vicinity. 

Notwithstanding  this  diversity  of  views,  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men granted  the  desired  permits,  and  the  New  England  Tele- 
phone and  Telegraph  Company  and  the  Edison  Electric  Light 
Company  have  already  laid  many  miles  of  underground  con- 
duits, in  which  to  place  their  wires.  The  former  company 
have  now  600  or  700  miles  of  wire  laid  underground,  in  cables 
containing  fifty  or  one  hundred  wires,  the  cables  being  con- 
structed like  the  ordinary  overhead  cables,  and  each  wire  being 
separately  insulated.  These  cables  are  laid  in  wooden  condu- 
its or  boxes,  about  two  feet  square,  made  of  creosoted  planks, 
and  laid  in  lengths  of  about  twenty  feet;  these  boxes  are  subdi- 
vided into  twelve  or  sixteen  ducts,  according  to  the  size  of  the 


202  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

boxes,  and  each  one  of  these  ducts  carries  a  cable.  The  junc- 
tions of  the  boxes  are  insulated  and  made  waterproof  by  an 
application  of  hot  tar,  with  which  all  the  spaces  are  filled.  The 
conduit  is  then  covered  with  tarred  paper,  and  an  outside  cas- 
ing of  creosoted  planks.  Man-holes  are  constructed  at  dis- 
tances of  200  feet,  or  nearer  if  necessary,  and  from  one  to  the 
other  of  these  the  cables  can  be  drawn  through  the  conduits,  a 
pilot  or  drawing  line  being  generally  left  in  each  duct.  Dis- 
tribution is  made  by  means  of  lead  cables  connecting  with  the 
conduits.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  telephone  company  to 
place  all  of  its  wires  underground  as  soon  as  possible  in  the 
business  portion  of  the  city. 

In  the  fall  of  .1886,  the  American  Conduit  and  Construction 
Company  laid  a  section  for  the  New  England  Telephone  and 
Telegraph  Co.,  in  Tremont  street,  as  an  experiment.  May 
19,  1887,  this  section  was  uncovered  to  see  its  condition  after 
laying  all  winter.  The  following  article  taken  from  the  Bos- 
ton Globe  of  May  20,  will  give  the  results: 

"Superintendent  Parker  and  the  engineers  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Telephone  Company  yesterday  unearthed  and  examined 
the  section  of  artificial  stone  laid  last  fall  on  Tremont  street 
for  carrying  electric  wires  underground.  The  examination 
was  to  determine  what  effect,  if  any,  the  wet  and  freezing 
weather  of  the  past  winter  had  had  on  the  material.  The  con- 
duit was  found  in  perfect  condition.  To  determine  if  the  frost 
had  disturbed  the  joints,  a  jointed  rattan  185  feet  long  was  run 
through  the  Conduit,  and  a  section  of  two-inch  cable  was  then 
pulled  through  without  meeting  any  obstruction.  The  engi- 
neer of  the  telephone  company  expressed  himself  as  perfectly 
satisfied  with  the  test,  and  in  his  opinion  the  artificial  stone  has 
more  durability  than  anything  yet  tested." 

During  the  past  few  months  a  most  searching  enquiry  has 
been  instituted  by  the  Boston  aldermen,  who  were  called 
upon  to  grant  an  exclusive  franchise  to  a  company  to  lay 
down  and  maintain  underground  conduits  for  twenty  years. 
A  franchise  was  granted  over  the  mayor's  veto.  The  usual 
conflict  of  statement  was  met  with  at  every  turn. 

No  arc  light  wires  have  been  operated  underground  in  Bos- 
ton. The  city  has  given  the  company  above  mentioned  the 
right  to  lay  its  conduits  in  the  streets  as  common  carriers,  with 
the  power  to  collect  rent  and  carry  all  the  city  wires,  but  the 
question  is  still  an  open  one. 


UNDERGROUND     LINKS.  203 


IN    DETROIT. 

Several  years  ago,  the  Michigan  Telephone  Construction 
Company  laid  some  Dorsett  conduit  in  Detroit.  The  Thomson- 
Houston  Electric  Light  Company  were  allowed  to  use  a  part 
of  the  conduit  with  their  wires,  but  the  telephone  people  soon 
found  their  business  interfered  with  by  induction  and  the 
electric  light  wires  were  ordered  out.  The  Thomson-Houston 
Company  also  claim  that  they  had  numerous  burn-outs  while 
their  wires  were  in  the  conduit. 

The  common  council  of  Detroit  has  ordered  all  wires  of 
every  nature  within  one-half  mile  circle  of  the  city  hall  to  be 
placed  underground,  and  this  spring  the  high  tension  arc  light 
companies  propose  to  try  various  experiments  in  the  effort  to 
solve  the  question  of  practicability. 

IN    BUFFALO. 

The  Thomson-Houston  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company 
of  Buffalo  has  contracted  with  the  Callender  Company  for 
several  miles  of  their  solid  system  of  underground  wires.  The 
station  is  not  yet  completed  and  no  practical  test  has  been 
made. 

IN    BROCKTON,    MASS. 

C.  W.  PALMER,  JR.,  Superintendent  of  the  Edison  Electric 
Illuminating  Company  at  Brockton,  Mass.,  writes  as  follows 
concerning  their  experience  with  Callender  cables: 

"  We  have  here  two  'Callender  Feeders';  one  composed  of 
three  cables  each  1,262  feet  long;  two  of  them  being  350,000 
c.  m.  and  the  third  120,000  c.  m.  The  second  feeder  is 
made  up  of  three  cables  1,025  feet  long;  two  of  them  being 
120,000  c.  m.  and  the  third  50,000  c.  m.  They  cost  us  $2,300. 
They  were  put  down  last  summer  and  are  now  giving  first-class 
service,  and  we  expect  great  things  of  them  in  future. 

"If  you  should  use  this  system,  be  sure  and  give  the  placing 
of  it  careful  oversight,  as  we  experienced  considerable  trouble 
shortly  after  they  were  first  put  in  use,  owing  to  carelessness 
in  putting  the  system  in  the  ground.  If  properly  laid,  and 
there  is  no  reason  why  it  cannot  be,  I  regard  the  Callender 
system  as  a  first-class  thing." 


204  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 


IN    DENVER. 

In  Denver,  the  city  authorities  are  now  laying  conduits  of  a 
local  manufacture,  but  no  arc  light  wires  have  as  yet  been  run 
therein. 

Such,  in  detail,  is  the  test  to  which  arc  light  wires  have  been 
subjected  in  the  United  States.  In  but  three  cities — Chicago, 
Philadelphia  and  Washington — are  they  actually  in  operation 
In  Brooklyn,  Boston  and  New  York  the  work  of  putting  them 
underground  has  been  commenced,  and  other  cities  are  consid- 
ering it,  but  as  yet  have  not  used  an  arc  light  on  the  under- 
ground cables.  Whether  an  arc  light  wire  can  be  successfully 
run  underground  is  susceptible  of  two  con  elusions  diametrically 
opposed  to  each  other.  It  has  not  been  settled  beyond  ques- 
tion that  the  general  burying  of  arc  light  wires  is  practicable, 
and,  until  it  is  so  determined,  opportunity  for  experiment 
should  be  allowed  by  every  municipality  contemplating  order- 
ing the  wires  underground.  It  is  probable  that  within  a  year 
or  two  the  careful  study  the  subject  is  having  will  bring  for- 
ward some  substantial  methods,  which  may  then  be  adopted 
with  confidence  and  with  satisfaction.  All  other  wires  should 
go  underground  at  once. 

In  this  connection,  two  papers  read  at  the  annual  convention 
of  the  National  Electric  Light  Association  held  in  Pittsburgh, 
February  21-23,  1888,  and  a  portion  of  the  discussion  on  them, 
is  of  interest. 

MR.  WELLS  W.  LEGGETT,  President  of  the  Brush  Electric 
Light  Company  of  Detroit,  read  the  following  paper  on 

THE  UNDERGROUNDING  OF  ELECTRIC  ARC  LIGHT   WIRES. 

This  topic  is  one  of  absorbing  interest  at  the  present  time.  Muni- 
cipal and  legislative  authority  seeks  to  compel  the  burying  of  all  the 
wires,  without  discrimination,  and  to  cast  upon  the  parties  interested,  the 
burden  of  finding  a  practical  means  to  accomplish  this  end.  The  pro- 
gress of  invention  in  science  and  art  records  infallibly  the  contemporane- 
ous public  demand.  This  demand  discloses  a  necessity,  and  inventive 
ingenuity  suggests  the  remedy. 

Starting  from  this  standpoint,  we  find  public  wiring  began  with  the 
telegraph.  Marshall  of  Paisley,  in  1753,  evolved  an  electric  telegraph, 
wherein  insulated  wires  were  to  be  trained  on  poles.  Le  Lomond ,  in 
1787,  Betencourt  in  the  same  year;  Riezen  in  1794;  Cavelloin  1795;  Salva 
in  1796;  Sommering  in  1809;  Coxe  in  1810,  and  Sharp  in  1813,  all  had 
telegraphs,  employing  from  one  to  twenty-six  wires,  trained  on  poles.  At 
this  stage,  however,  the  interesting  experiments,  to  which  the  world  lent 
a  helping  hand,  developed  signs  of  commercial  utility  and  value.  Man's 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  205 

cupidity  and  selfishness  at  once,  antagonizes  what  he  cannot  share,  and 
we  find  the  public  arrayed  in  opposition  to  the  use  of  the  highways. 
Inventive  ingenuity  came  to  the  rescue  and  in  1816,  Ronalds  erected  and 
used*  a  telegraph,  in  which  some  of  his  wires  were  placed  on  poles,  and 
some  were  "buried  in  the  ground.  Tribavillet  followed  in  1828,  with  a 
system  employing  underground  wires,  and  when  Professor  Morse,  in 
1832,  brought  out  his  system,  he  proposed  connecting  Washington  with 
Baltimore,  a  distance  of  forty-four  miles.  To  his  mind,  the  wires  should 
be  insulated,  aod  laid  in  a  lead  tube  in  the  ground.  He  constructed  his 
line  with  great  care  and  at  large  expense ;  but  only  a  few  miles  had  been 
laid  when  the  gradual  escape  from  the  lines  proved  his  scheme  impracti- 
cable. He  was  about  to  abandon  the  undertaking,  when  one  of  his  coad- 
jutors, Dr.  Page,  of  the  patent  office,'  or  Professor  Henry,  of  the 
Smithsonian  institute,  said  to  him:  "Take  your  wire  from  the  ground 
and  train  it  on  poles."  The  advice  was  followed  and  success  achieved. 
Here,  then,  in  the  incipiency  of  public  wiring,  is  the  first  recorded  failure 
coupled  with  its  remedy:  "Take  the  wires  from  the  ground  and  put 
them  on  poles." 

With  underground  telegraph  and  telephone  wires  the  electrical  diffi- 
culties to  overcome  are  much  the  same.  Moisture  must  be  excluded 
from  the  wires.  Insulation  must  be  good,  and  induction  must  be  reduced 
to  the  minimum,  especially  between  adjacent  lines.  In  both,  however, 
leakage  from  the  lines,  due  to  imperfect  insulation,  may  be  compensated 
for,  within  limits,  by  additional  battery  force.  A  battery  acts  like  a 
pump,  sending  water  through  a  leaky  pipe  —  the  water  may  all  .escape 
before  reaching  the  discharge  end  —  but  with  a  more  powerful  pump, 
while  increased  pressure  will  cause  greater  escape  through  leakage,  one 
may  succeed  in  discharging  a  limited  quantity  through  the  end  of  the 
pipe,  and  so  accomplish  the  purpose  sought.  For  this  reason  under- 
ground telegraph  and  telephone  wires  may  be  operated  with  a  measure 
of  success. 

In  most  of  our  cities,  all  telegraph  wires  might  be  led  to  a  certain 
point,  from  which  the  wires  of  all  systems  could,  by  one  underground 
conduit,  be  led  to  a  central  station  or  stations,  and  thence  back  through 
the  same  circuit,  and,  where  the  wires  are  numerous,  this  plan  might 
warrant  the  expense.  With  telephone  companies,  whose  subscribers 
are  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  the  requirements  that  each  wire  should  be 
conveyed  underground,  would  involve  an  outlay  for  conduits  wholly 
prohibitive. 

For  direct  service  incandescent  lighting,  the  required  conductors 
are  so  large,  that  to  train  them  upon  poles,  or  to  train  an  equivalent 
capacity  in  smaller  wires  on  poles,  would  involve  outlay  and  annoyance 
exceeding  that  required  to  place  the  conductors  underground.  So,  again, 
the  resistance  of  the  conductors,  to  the  flow  of  the  current,  is  exceedingly 
slight ;  it  might  be  compared  to  the  pouring  of  water  from  a  pitcher 
through  a  six-inch  pipe — its  course  of  least  resistance  lies  right  forward 
through  the  pipe,  and  there  is  little  tendency  for  it  to  seek  an  exit  through 
any  more  restricted  channel.  In  comparison  with  it  the  arc  light  current 
might  be  likened  to  a  large  hose,  with  a  small  nozzle,  through  which 
water  is  being  forced  with  a  powerful  pump ;  the  tension  is  very  great, 
and  if  so  much  as  a  pin  hole  exists  in  the  hose,  water  will  squirt  there- 
from, and  quickly  enlarge  the  orifice  to  a  fatal  rent.  From  the  fact, 
therefore,  that  telegraph  and  telephone  and  incandescent  electric  light 
wires  may  be  trained  underground  with  success,  by  no  means  does  it 
follow,  that  the  same  is  true  of  arc  light  wires. 

It  is  an  undoubted  fact,  that  to  successfully  underground  electric 
arc  light  wires,  involves  simply  and  solely  a  question  of  expense.  But 
expense  may  be  the  very  essence  of  the  inquiry,  for  if  the  expense  is  out 
of  proportion  to  the  revenue  that  can  be  derived  from  the  service,  expense 


206  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

alone  prohibits  the  outlay  and  determines  it  to  be  impracticable.  Expen- 
diture of  money  is  alone  required  to  tunnel  the  Dover  Straits,  and  yet 
French  and  English  capitalists  have  pronounced  it  wholly  impracticable, 
as  the  returns  could  not  warrant  the  investment.  So  it  is  with  electric 
arc  light  wires ;  an  efficient  system,  so  far  as  inventive  ingenuity  has  yet 
presented  any  plan,  involves  an  expenditure  wholly  prohibitive,  and  for 
that  reason  alone  is  impracticable. 

All  substances  are  conductors,  as  copper,  rubber,  iron,  glass,  dry  air. 
Some  substances  are  such  poor  conductors  that,  in  comparison  with 
those  that  are  better,  we  call  them  non-conductors.  We  use  these  poor 
or  iion-conductors,  such  as  rubber,  glass,  paraffine,  wood  and  dry  air,  as 
insulators,  but  we  find  dry  air  to  be  our  most  perfect  insulator.  Dry  air 
is  a  better  insulator  than  rubber.  If,  therefore,  in  dry  air,  two  rubber- 
covered  wires  cross  in  close  proximity  to  each  other,  the  induction  is 
greater  between  them  than  would  be  the  case  if  both  wires  were  bare. 
But  air  is  usually  laden  with  moisture,  and  water,  charged  as  it  is  with 
mineral  salts  and  acids  of  the  atmosphere,  is  a  good  conductor.  We 
therefore  coat  our  line  wires  with  an  insulating  material,  to  shield  them 
from  direct  contact  with  moist  surfaces,  or  other  good  conductors,  and 
so  reduce  in  amount  the  current,  which  is  always  escaping  by  connection 
to  the  ground  and  which  varies  in  direct  proportion  to  the  conducting 
property  of  the  intermediate  medium. 

When  our  insulated  wires  are  trained  on  poles,  we  have  at  the  rate 
of  30  poles  to  the  mile,  thirty  points  at  which  a  small  amount  of  current 
may  and  always  does  seep  off  to  the  ground.  Now,  let  us  put  an  insulated 
cable  in  a  conduit  in  the  ground.  The  conditions  are  all  changed  in  the 
most  aggravating  manner.  Instead  of  comparatively  dry  air,  the  air  is 
clammy  and  heavily  laden  with  moisture;  instead  of  a  mass  of  surround- 
ing air,  as  on  the  poles,  the  envelope  of  air  is,  at  best  but  an  inch  more 
or  less  in  thickness;  instead  of  resting  at  30  points  in 'a  mile  on  glass 
supports,  connected  to  dry  non-conducting  wooden  poles  to  make  the 
passage  to  the  ground  as  much  obstructed  as  possible,  the  line  touches 
the  conduit  at  say  two  or  three  points,  in  the  space  of  every  foot,  or  say, 
at  ten  thousand  points  in  a  mile,  and  the  conduit  itself,  a  much  better 
conductor  than  glass  or  dry  wood,  is  all  that  separates  it  from  the  moist 
earth.  The  bearings  at  which  the  current  may  seep  away  have  been 
multiplied  from  thirty  contacts  to  ten  thousand  contacts  per  mile,  while 
the  conductivity  of  the  medium  at  each  point  has  been  greatly  enhanced. 
A  regular  arched  subway  has  been  suggested,  which  approaches  most 
nearly  to  a  successful  plan,  but  only  a  state  or  city  could  stand  the 
necessary  outlay.  A  subway  of  this  character,  lour  feet  wide  and  eight 
feet  high,  for  Chestnut  Street  alone,  in  Philadelphia,  it  was  estimated, 
would  cost  the  city  $1,500,000.  After  completion,  such  a  subway  would 
have  to  be  supplied  with  forced  ventilation,  to  keep  it  dry.  If,  then,  the 
insulated  wires  could  be  supported  so  as  to  touch  at  but  thirty  points  to 
the  mile,  the  conditions  of  external  wire  training  on  poles  would  be  fairly 
approximated. 

The  question  is  frequently  asked,  if  telephone  and  telegraph  wires 
can  be  placed  underground,  why  cannot  arc  wires  be  disposed  of  in  the  same 
way.  The  reason  is  plain,  leakage  or  escape  can  be  supplied,  in  the  for- 
mer, by  an  additional  battery  power,  but  an  arc  light  generator  is  a  queer 
specimen  of  mechanics.  It  starts  a  mild  current,  and  this  passing  back 
around  its  field  magnets  builds  them  up  ;  the  increased  magnetism 
induces  greater  impulses  in  the  bobbins  of  the  armature ;  the  current, 
thus  increased,  continues  to  pass  through  the  line  and  back  around  the 
field  magnets  until  the  current  has  reached  its  maximum.  It  is  therefore 
apparent  that  anything  which  saps  the  current  from  the  line,  not  only 
steals  the  quantity  which  has  escaped,  but  prevents  just  so  much  current 
from  passing  back  around  the  field  magnets,  and  to  that  extent  robs  the 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  207 

machine  of  its  capacity  to  generate  a  current.  These  machines  are 
capable  of  taking  care  of  the  small  amount  of  loss  at  the  insulators  in 
the  pole  and  line  system,  but  when  this  is  multiplied  many  times,  as 
in  an  underground  conduit,  they  are  so  robbed  of  their  power  to  recup- 
erate that  the  resulting  lights  are  necessarily  reduced  in  number  and 
are  weak  and  sickly. 

Operations  looking  to  the  undergrounding  of  arc  light  wires  have 
been  prosecuted  on  a  large  scale,  at  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Chicago,  Phil- 
adelphia and  Washington.  Notwithstanding  all  reports  to  the  contrary, 
I  rind  that  at  New  York,  although  the  subway  commission  has  expended 
vast  sums  of  money,  and  has  succeeded  in  burying  certain  telephone  and 
telegraph  wires,  no  arc  light  line  has,  up  to  this  time,  been  buried  in 
New  York  City,  and  this  is  fully  corroborated  by  the  report  of  the  Board 
of  Electrical  Control,  of  January  6,  1888. 

At  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  the  board  of  commissioners  of  electrical 
subways  instituted  a  thorough  investigation  of  this  subject  in  1886,  and 
in  its  report  of  December  30,  1886,  says:  "With  regards  to  electric 
light  conductors,  this  board  has  found  no  device  which  would  with  cer- 
tainty in  its  opinion  enable  the  wires  carrying  arc  light  currents  to  be 
safely  and  successfully  operated  in  the  same  conduit  with  telephone  and 
telegraph  conductors,  without  disturbance  or  injury  to  the  latter.  *  *  * 
But  the  board  desires  to  say,  emphatically,  that  those  fluent  critics,  who 
talk  of  putting  electric  light  conductors  underground,  but  make  no  dis- 
tinction between  arc  and  incandescent  lights  or  between  the  arc  lights  of 
different  systems,  are  ignorant  of  the  alphabet  of  the  subject."  The  pre- 
sident of  the  board  visited  all  the  principal  cities  in  Great  Britain  and 
Europe;  he  found  no  arc  light  wires  underground,  and  although  a  few 
years  since  such  wires  were  trained  in  the  Paris  sewers  they  have  been 
removed,  and  no  arc  light  wires  are  now  allowed  therein. 

The  Brooklyn  commission  made  another  report,  December  15,  1887, 
and  on  this  topic  says:  "  As  was  fully  explained  in  the  last  report,  the 
subject  of  underground  conduits,  for  arc  currents,  is  the  one  which  pre- 
sents the  most  numerous  and  novel  difficulties.  Since  it  has  been  impos- 
sible for  Brooklyn  to  take  the  lead  in  the  experimental  solution  of  these, 
the  only  remaining  course  was  to  watch  carefully  the  progress  of  experi- 
ments in  other  cities.  This  has  been  done,  both  by  correspondence  and 
personal  visits  of  members  of  the  board.  The  principal  cities  in  which 
experiments  of  this  kind  have  been  in  progress  are  New  York,  Chicago, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Washington.  In  one  or  another  of  these, 
several  systems,  which  were  regarded  with  favor  a  year  ago,  have  since 
developed  defects  or  even  come  to  entire  failure.  It  cannot  be  said  that 
any  system  has  yet  been  completely  proven  to  be  permanently  satisfac- 
tory. There  are  one  or  two.  however,  which  promise  well,  and  this  board 
awaits  with  attentive  interest  their  further  trial ;  though  for  the  cause 
specified,  they  failed  to  co  operate  in  the  experimental  investigation  of 
the  different  and  delicate  questions  involved."  There  are  no  arc  light 
wires  underground  up  to  this  time  in  Brooklyn. 

At  Washington,  in  1884,  cables  were  laid  in  F  Street,  from  Ninth 
to  Fifteenth.  In  a  few  months  it  was  necessary  to  dig  up  a  few  of  the 
same.  Later  there  was  much  more  trouble,  and  it  was  all  taken  up  and 
relaid.  About  one  year  after  the  first  laying  it  was  wholly  abandoned, 
because  they  could  not  make  it  work.  In  1885,  they  laid  cables  on 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  Ninth  to  First  Streets,  and  imported  an  expert 
iTorn  Antwerp  to  lay  them.  Twelve  cables  were  laid  in  solid  cement, 
and  no  expense  was  spared  to  insure  success.  They  proved  an  utter 
failure.  The  avenue  was  dug  up  many  times.  The  wires  were  in  Sep- 
tember, 1887.  mostly  out  of  service,  and  the  remainder  were  in  such 
bad  shape  that  they  would  require  constant  repairing  or  have  to  be 
abandoned. 


208  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

An  officer  of  the  Washington  Company  writes  me  under  date  of 
September  12,  1887:  "We  have  many  committees  coming  here  t©  see 
what  we  have  accomplished,  as  they  have  heard  that  we  have  met  with 
great  success  and  so  forth.  We  will  say  to  you  that  our  experience, 
after  the  outlay  of  many  thousands  of  dollars,  is  this:  Have  nothing 
to  do  with  underground  cables  for  arc  lighting,  if  you  can  possibly 
avoid  it  ;  many  will  tell  you  that  it  is  perfectly  practicable  ;  look  out 
for  such  persons ;  they  are  probably  interested  directly  or  indirectly  in 
cables.  There  is  a  big  lobby  in  that  branch  of  business.  There  is  no 
city  or  town  in  the  world  where  a  cable  has  been  made  to  work  two 
years,  that  has  been  subjected  to  2,000  volts  of  pressure."  The  Wash- 
ington Company  is  using  lead  covered  cables  with  success  for  incandes- 
cent work;  but  as  to  the  undergrounding  of  arc  light  wires  confirmed 
as  late  as  February  7,  1888,  they  report  that  out  of  fourteen  miles  of  arc 
light  cable,  in  fourteen  different  circuits,  all  have  proved  total  failures 
and  have  been  abandoned,  except  a  very  small  amount. 

At  Philadelphia,  elaborate  experiments  have  been  prosecuted.  All 
kinds  of  cables  have  been  employed  and  a  great  variety  of  conduits, 
but  great  trouble  has  been  experienced.  The  systems  largely  employed 
were  such  as  had  ducts,  through  which  the  cables  were  drawn.  In 
most  cases  the  insulating  compound  rapidly  deteriorated  and  became 
useless.  In  others  it  would  be  rotted  and  become  water  soaked.  When 
lead  covered  cables  were  used,  in  conduits  where  creosote  was  employed, 
the  effect  was  to  rapidly  oxidize  the  lead  covering  and  disintegrate  it. 
It  was  found  that  gas  could  not  be  kept  from  the  ducts,  though  appar- 
ently gas  tight,  and  many  explosions  followed.  Recourse  was  then  had 
to  ventilation  by  lamp  posts,  but  the  trouble  was  not  remedied.  After 
several  explosions  in  one  system,  in  which  persons  and  property  were 
injured,  a  power  fan  was  adjusted  to  force  air  through  the  conduit,  as 
it  was  deemed  a  better  plan  than  to  draw  the  air  through,  as  by  the  latter 
course  gas  might  be  drawn  in  simultaneously.  When  shortly  afterwards 
the  lighting  company  was  congratulating  itself  that  it  had  overcome  the 
difficulty,  a  tremendous  explosion  ensued,  extending  for  a  long  distance, 
ripping  up  the  street  and  breaking  a  large  plate  glass  window,  so  that  the 
entire  system  of  lights  had  to  be  adandoned.  It  was  some  six  months 
ago  determined,  by  the  manager,  that,  as  a  result  of  experience,  no 
conduit  would  suffice  for  arc  light  wires  in  which  there  were  open  ducts, 
and  that  success  lay  in  the  employment  of  lead  covered  cables  buried 
solid.  This  plan,  suggested  by  the  city  electricians,  was  tried  and  suc- 
cess seemed  assured,  but  they  now  report  the  experiment  unsuccessful. 
The  section  buried  is  not  great,  but  three  bad  grounds  have  recentty 
developed.  Two  were  repaired,  but  the  third  necessitated  the  temporary 
cutting  out  of  a  part  of  the  line,  and  the  training  of  wires  on  poles,  until 
the  earth  might  thaw  and  access  might  be  had  to  the  wires.  The  united 
companies  of  Philadelphia  are  at  a  loss  what  to  try  next. 

At  this  point  I  would  note  that  these  demands  for  a  system  for  arc 
light  wires  have  greatly  stimulated  inventive  ingenuity,  but  yet  without 
success.  Out  of  seventy-two  patents  that  have  been  issued  in  this  line, 
fifty-three  of  them  have  emanated  from  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston, 
Brooklyn,  Wilmington,  Camden  and  Washington,  all  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  places  where  the  operations  were  conducted.  The  others 
were  mostly  from  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  Now,  as  to  Chicago, — much 
has  been  said  of  its  system,  —  but  a  visit  to  the  city  satisfied  me  that  its 
electric  arc  light  industry  was  being  strangled.  A  few  blocks  in  the 
immediate  heart  of  the  city  were  using  electric  lights  very  lavishly,  but 
the  area  lighted  is  scarcely  a  half  mile  square.  This  small  area  is  served 
from  no  less  than  nine  separate  plants,  formerly  belonging  to  as  many 
companies,  but  now  consolidated  into  one.  A  letter  under  date  of  Sep- 
tember 20,  from  an  officer  of  the  consolidated  company,  explains  the  situa- 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  209 

tion  there;  he  says:  "  We  have  had  an  enormous  amount  of  trouble  with 
our  underground  arc  light  circuits,  averaging,  I  should  say,  for  the  last 
three  months,  one  burn-out  every  day.  The  expense  of  reconstruction 
and  the  losses  in  rebates  have  been  enormous,  and  the  annoyance  to  our 
customers  is  more  damaging  still.  Commencing  in  April  last  we  bought 
out  some  more  arc  light  plants  in  Chicago,  and  have  proceeded  to  con- 
centrate them  into  four  main  stations,  burning  about  1,100  lights.  Their 
owners  had  all  been  using  underground  conductors  composed  for  the 
most  part  of  Okonite,  Kerite,  Callender  and  Underwriters'  wire.  Every- 
one of  these  insulators  has  failed  constantly.  The  only  thing  that  has 
held  up  at  all  is  lead  covered  cable,  and  we  have  been  driven  to  the 
great  expense  of  taking  out  every  foot  of  the  old  constructions  and  of 
substituting  lead  covered  cables  throughout.  This  work  is  not  done  yet. 
Our  people  are  confident  that  a  large  business  awaits  us  here,  but  its 
development  will  depend  entirely  upon  device.  These  lead  circuits  may 
fail  much  sooner  than  is  anticipated,  and  it  is  almost  certain  that  we 
shall  be  compelled  to  reduce  the  number  of  lights  upon  a  circuit,  a  very 
difficult  matter  in  a  city  like  Chicago.  Our  conduit  space  is  already 
filled  along  the  main  routes  and  additional  conduits  will  be  necessary. 
The  constant  tearing  up  of  the  pavements  for  all  kinds  of  purposes  makes 
our  street  department  very  unwilling  to  grant  permits  for  laying  additional 
conduits,  and  several  times  they  have  refused  altogether.  I  would  say 
here  that  arc  light  business  in  Chicago  has  developed  entirely  since  the 
passage  of  the  underground  ordinance  of  1881.  The  result  has  been  the 
multiplication  of  small  isolated  plants  and  the  formation  of  the  nine 
small  central  station  plants  bought  put  by  this  company.  None  of  these 
plants'  made  any  money.  It  was  impossible  for  them  to  do  so,  operat- 
ing underground  and  upon  so  small  a  scale.  No  streets  have  ever  been 
lighted  by  electricity  here,  in  fact,  the  whole  industry  is  in  a  very  back- 
ward condition  and  is  likely  to  remain  so,  except  in  the  most  densely 
crowded  portion  of  the  city,  unless  some  arrangement  can  be  had  with 
the  city  authorities  for  overhead  wires.  The  city  is  trying  an  experiment 
of  its  own  in  lighting  the  Chicago  river,  which  will,  t  am  confident, 
demonstrate  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  statement;  and,  in  the  course  of 
a  year,  I  hope  that  our  city  fathers  will  permit  overhead  lines,  in  many 
places  where  public  convenience  demands  electric  lights,  where  under- 
ground construction  would  forbid  it." 

At  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  three  systems  have  been  tried  and  abandoned, 
i.  e.,  a  wooden  duct,  plain  and  tarred,  iron  pipe  and  grooved  wood.  A 
fourth,  consisting  of  tile  conduits  with  a  heavy  insulated  but  not  lead- 
covered  cable,  has  recently  been  introduced,  and  is  now  being  tested. 
The  company  doubts  whether  it  will  stand  the  trying  spring  season. 

At  Detroit,  the  Thomson-Houston  Company  employed  a  cable  of  the 
most  expensive  and  approved  character,  in  the  Dorsett  conduit,  and  the 
mechanical  work  was  of  the  best  quality.  While  the  cable  was  new  the 
results  were  fair,  though  loss  by  leakage  rendered  it  impossible  to  pro- 
duce normal  light. 

It  was  found  impossible  to  operate  telephone  wires  in  the  same  or 
adjacent  pipes.  The  company  soon  abandoned  the  system,  and  when  its 
cable  was  removed,  it  was  found  the  insulation  had  so  rotted,  or 
softened,  that  considerable  lengths  of  the  wire  in  many  places  were 
stripped  bare. 

With  the  alternating  system,  some  wires  have  been  undergrounded  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  and  in'Denver,  Col.,  and  a  small  amount  in  Pittsburgh, 
but  the  voltage  is  only  half  that  of  the  arc  light  systems,  and  even  with 
this  low  voltage  the  lead-covered  cables  have  not  been  in  use  long  enough 
to  determine  the  question  of  their  success. 

The  difficulty  of  explosions  from  gas  has  been  met  with  many  times 
at  Chicago,  New  York  and  elsewhere,  as  well  as  at  Philadelphia,  and 


210  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

seems  insurmountable,  where  gas  is  employed.  At  New  York  men  have 
been  suffocated  in  the  man-holes,  and  in  the  Western  Union  building  the 
escape  of  gas  from  their  conduits  has  been  almost  unbearable.  At 
Detroit,  an  explosion  took  place  in  October  last,  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  in  a  fire  alarm  conduit  with  closed  manholes,  and  in  which  no 
wire  bad  ever  yet  been  placed.  It  doubtless  occurred  through  the  admix- 
ture of  illuminating  gas  and  sewer  gas,  or  other  exhalations,  in  propor- 
tions to  explode  spontaneously.  The  man-hole  cover  was  thrown  high 
into  the  air,  the  street  was  torn  up  and  the  paving  blocks  were  scattered 
over  a  distance  of  eighty  feet  or  more. 

The  problem  of  uudergrounding  arc  light  wires  is  by  no  means  solved, 
but  appears  to-day  to  be  further  than  ever  from  solution,  owing  to  the 
utter  failure  of  systems,  which  apparently  had  all  the  elements  to  insure 
success.  In  this  emergency  municipal  bodies  must  suit  their  action  to 
the  facts.  To  legislate  arc  light  wires  beneath  the  ground,  when  no 
practical  system  is  presented  for  accomplishing  that  end,  is  actually  and 
literaHy  to  bury  the  system.  When  a  city  is  so  sanguine  of  the  sound- 
ness of  its  judgment,  the  remedy  would  seem  to  be  for  the  city  to  pro- 
vide conduits  and  the  necessary  cables,  guarantee  their  success,  and  then 
compel  lighting  companies  to  rent  the  lines  at  a  proper  figure,  or,  failing 
so  to  do,  to  quit  the  field.  Summary  action  on  any  other  basis  is 
incompatible  with  that  justice  and  equity,  which  it  is  the  inherent  right 
of  every  person  to  demand  and  receive.  Any  other  course  is  to  dis- 
courage enterprise  and  to  ruthlessly  impair  or  destroy  capital  invested 
in  good  faith. 

The  difficulty  usually  met  with  is  a  peculiar  and  unreasonable  one. 
Municipal  and  legislative  bodies  view  with  suspicion  lighting  companies, 
their  officers,  stockholders  and  everybody  connected  with  them.  It 
seems  to  be  assumed  that  because  the  companies  make  a  certain  showing 
of  facts,  the  facts  must  necessarily  be  exactly  the  contrary,  and  they 
legislate  accordingly.  Thus,  at  Detroit,  in  opposition  to  letters  produced 
by  the  lighting  company,  alleging  repeated  trials  and  failures  at  Wash- 
ington, Philadelphia  and  Chicago,  the  mayor,  unquestionably  in  good 
faitb,  reported  to  the  council,  as  the  result  of  his  personal  investigation 
upon  the  spot,  that  no  electric  light  wires  had  ever  been  buried  in  the 
City  of  Washington,  a  most  glaring  error,  yet  this  was  followed  by  a 
report  of  the  committee  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  council,  that 
the  underground  systems  of  electric  arc  light  wires  were  entirely  prac- 
ticable and  were  in  successful  use  at  Washington,  New  York)  Philadel- 
phia and  Chicago.  At  Cleveland,  recently,  the  strongest  argument  in  the 
underground  struggle  advanced  by  the  city  was,  that  the  wires  of  the 
Thomson-Houston  Company,  of  Detroit,  were  operated  underground  in 
the  Dorsett  system,  whereas  there  was  not  a  foot  of  arc  light  wire  under- 
ground in  Detroit.  To  combat  this  unreasonable  and  unreasoning  preju- 
dice, the  question,. whether  any  system  yet  discovered  is  practical  and 
sufficient  tor  the  purpose,  should  be  thoroughly  and  exhaustively  exam- 
ined, aud  an  elaborate  report  made  and  published,  with  full  data  upon 
which  the  conclusions  are  reached;  this  should  be  done  by  a  board  of 
competent  and  eminent  men  of  national  repute,  entirely  disconnected 
from  the  electrical  business,  men  who  could  be  gathered  from  the  scien- 
tific chairs  of  our  largest  colleges  and  polytechnic  institutes,  and  it  would 
rest  with  the  interested  companies  of  this  association  to  contribute 
from  their  own  funds,  or  to  influence  the  necessary  contributions  by 
the  councils  of  their  respective  cities,  to  pay  the  necessary  expenses  of 
such  an  inquiry. 

At  the  same  meeting  JESSE  M.  SMITH,  of  Detroit,  read  the 
following  paper  on 


UNDERGROUND   LINES.  211 

"UNDERGROUND  CONDUCTORS  FOR  ELECTRICAL  CURRENTS:" 

The  question  of  underground  conductors  of  electric  currents  is  one 
which  every  person  interested  in  electricity  should  study  fairly  and  with 
a  predetermination  of  solving. 

It  is  not  purely  an  electrical  question,  in  fact,  the  electrical  part  of  it  is 
far  overbalanced  by  the  mechanical. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  finding  an  excellent  insulating  material,  but 
the  difficulty  lies  in  the  holding  of  this  insulator  on  the  conductor. 

Many  substances  are  good  insulators  in  dry  places;  some  are  good 
under  water;  some  in  damp  places;  and  a  few  will  stand  acid  and  alka- 
line fumes  and  the  ravages  of  sewer  and  illuminating  gas,  but  how  many 
will  insulate  under  all  these  conditions  and  in  addition  be  substantial 
enough  to  withstand  the  mechanical  injuries  to  which  they  are  exposed 
when  buried  under  the  streets  of  our  large  cities? 

A  few  years  ago  wire  wound  around  with  a  little  cotton  soaked  in 
paraffine  was  thought  sufficiently  insulated  until  the  insurance  companies 
had  a  few  losses,  due  of  course  to  electricity,  and  then  we  had  under- 
writers' wire. 

The  name  of  this  wire  has  sold  hundreds  of  tons  of  it,  but  that  does 
not  prevent  its  grounding  a  whole  system  when  it  comes  in  contact  with 
the  least  moisture. 

It,  however,  marks  one  state  in  the  evolution  of  the  perfect  insula- 
tion. 

There  seems  to  be  comparatively  little  difficulty  in  making  a  cable 
that  will  carry  high  potential  currents  when  constantly  submerged. 

The  conditions  are  substantially  the  same  at  all  times.  There  are  m> 
alternate  changes  of  moisture  and  dryness;  no  great  changes  of  tempera- 
ture; and  very  little  of  the  destructive  action  of  gases. 

The  conditions  of  the  underground  conductor  are  very  different. 

Here  the  conductor  is  dry,  then  wet;  it  is  frozen,  and  again  thawed; 
it  is  attacked  by  sewer  gas,  and  the  corroding  action  of  the  water  leach- 
ing through  the  accumulated  filth  of  the  street;  it  is  subject  to  the  de- 
structive action  of  the  leaking  gas  and  steam  pipes,  and  finally,  but  not 
the  less  surely,  to  the  ruthless  "ditch  digger." 

These  are  certainly  formidable  obstacles,  but  a  number  of  them  have 
already  been  overcome,  and  the  others  must  be. 

Public  opinion  says  the  wires  of  all  kinds  must  go  underground,  and 
electricians,  engineers,  and  capitalists  must  find  the  means  of  doing  ifr. 

The  question  resolves  itself  into  three  parts. 

1st.  The  electrical  insulation  of  the  conductor. 

2d.  The  protection  of  the  insulator  from  the  effects  of  moisture  and 
corrosion. 

3d.  The  protection  of  both  from  mechanical  injury. 

The  question  of  electrical  insulation  seems  to  me  to  be  solved  by  at 
least  six  of  the  standard  compounds  now  in  daily  use. 

The  second  part  of  the  question  is  the  most  serious. 

If  any  of  the  standard  insulations  can  be  enclosed  so  as  to  be  pro- 
tected from  direct  contact  with  moisture  their  chances  of  life  are  certain- 
ly improved,  but  if  they  can  be  hermetically  sealed,  they  should  be  prac- 
tically indestructible,  provided  the  casing  is  indestructible. 

We  single  out  as  among  the  best  materials  from  which  to  form  such 
a  casing — iron  and  lead. 

Cast  iron,  underground,  will  last  a  great  number  of  years,  as  shown 
by  gas  and  water  pipes,  but  it  cannot  be  obtained  in  lengths  much  over 
12  feet,  and  the  numerous  joints  multiply  the  chances  of  leakage.  The 
conductors  must  of  necessity  be  drawn  into  the  pipe  after  it  is  in  place. 

The  conductor  must  be  considerably  smaller  than  the  pipe,  and  there- 
fore moisture  will  creep  in  between  the  two. 


'J!'J  I    M.KK'.KOUNI)      LINES. 

Wrought  iron  pipe  if  well  coated  with  asphalt  or  some  similar  sub- 
slam-c  will  last  a  long  time. 

It  inuy  be  hud  in  lom'cr  lengths  than  the  cast  pipe,  and  the  joints  are 
more  easily  and  surely  made. 

If  screw  threaded  joints  are  used  the  conductors  must  be  dr:i,wn  in, with 
the  same  objections  as  with  the.  cast,  pipes.  If  the  lengths  of  pipe  are 
prepared  with  Hie  conductors  in  them  before  laying,  joints  must  be  made 
in  I  he  conductor  as  well  as  in  I  he  casing,  at  short  intervals. 

Joints  are  the  bane  of  electrical  construction.  From  the  dynamo  to 
the  lamp  and  return  the  current  is  forced  to  pass  joints  which  frequently 
offer  more  resistance  than  1,000  feet,  of  wire. 

At  these  joints  the  insulation,  instead  of  being  better  than  at  other 
points  of  the  conductor,  is  generally  worse,  and  oftentimes  none  at  all  is 
found. 

It  is  not,  straii"e  that  the  current  should  seek  an  easier  path  home,  and 
take  to  mound  rather  than  be  forced  through  the  accumulated  resistance 
of  all  these  joints. 

I  will  venture  to  say  that  of  all  the  failures  of  underground  conduc 
tors,  90  per  cent,  are  directly  traceable  to  the  joints,  and  for  that  reason 
it  is  desirable  to  have  as  few  as  possible. 

The  conductor  may  be,  obtained  in,  practically,  any  length,  and  the 
insulation  may  be  put  on  continuously,  hut  in  order  to  have  a  contin- 
uous casing  it  must  be  formed  of  some  soft  and  ductile  metal  which  can 
be  closed  about  the  insulated  conductor  in  the.  course,  of  its  manufacture. 

Lead  seems  to  be  the  only  commercial  metal  that  will  meet  these  con- 
ditions, and  there  are  objection!  even  to  it. 

Lead  is  soft  and  easily  punctured  and  offers  little  resistance  to  crush- 
ing or  bending,  and  is  attacked  by  rats. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  corrosive  action  of  the  earth  has  little  effect 
upon  it;  while  its  pliable  nature  permits  of  its  use  in  many  places  where 
iron  pipe  could  not  be  used. 

Heing  soft  and  ductile  it  can  be  brought  into  such  close  contact  with 
the  insulation  as  to  prevent  or  at  least  retard  the  creeping  of  moisture 
between  the  insulation  and  casing. 

It  seems  to  me,  therefore,  that,  lead  casing  offers  more  ad  vantages  and 
less  objection  than  any  other  form  of  protection  to  insulation  as  yet  open 
to  our  use. 

The  third  part  of  the  question,  vi/:  the  mechanical  protection  of  the 
casing,  and  hence  the  conductor,  is  not  so  difficult  a  matter. 

If  an  iron  casing  is  used  little  or  no  protection  is  needed. 

The  pipe  is  strong  enough  in  itself  to  withstand  any  ordinary  abuse. 

If  lead  is  used,  however,  it  should  be  kept  from  contact  with  sharp 
Stones,  bits  of  glass  or  metal,  and  have  something  about  it  to  warn  the 
"ditch-digger"  before  he  strikes  it  with  a  pick. 

An  ordinary  square  wooden  box  is  oftentimes  sufficient. 

If  it  does  rot  away  it  leaves  a  bed  of  soft  mould . 

The  box  may  be  made  of  white  oak  well  creosoted,  in  which  case  it 
will  last  until  the  next  generation  finds  something  better. 

If  the  underground  conductor  is  to  come  into  practical  everyday  use, 
it  must  be  so  constructed  that  it  may  be  tapped  at  any  point,  as  readily 
and  with  as  much  certainty  as  a  water  main  is  now  tapped. 

How  many  miles  of  lead  water  pipes  are  now  buried  in  our  streets? 

They  are  not  protected  by  boxes  or  conduits  of  any  kind,  yet  it  is 
comparatively  ran;  Hut  we  hear  of  their  failure. 

If  such  pipes  filled  with  water  can  be  laid  in  the  earth,  without  pro- 
tection, why  can  not  a  lead  pipe  filled  solid  full  with  copper  and  insula- 
tion be  buried  with  even  more  success? 

Good  workmen  can  certainly  be  found  who  can  cut  a  conductor,  splice 
in  a  branch  and  solder  it,  replace  the  insulation,  and  finally  wipe  a  joint 


U*  XD    LINES. 

on  the  lead  casing  with  as  much  «ase  and  certainty  as  a  plumber  can 
make  a  joint  in  a  lead  water  pipe  and  have  it  stand  100  pounds  pressure, 

In  a  general  system  of  distribution  there  are  two  classes  of  conductors, 
one  which  we  may  call  through  mains  or  feeders,  and  another  service 
mains. 

A  number  of  through  mains  may  be  bunched  together  in  a  cable  un- 

one  casing,  where  they  run  in  the  same  direction  for  considerable 
distances.  These  may  be  drawn  into  conduits,  as  they  are  not  to  be  used 
between  the  main  distributing  points. 

Service  mains  must,  however,  be  so  constructed  that  they  may  be 
tapped  at  any  point,  and  that  very  readily. 

Large  sums  of  money  have  been  spent  in  New  York  and  elsewhere 
on  conduits  for  electric  conductors. 

Are  conduits  necessary  or  desirable  in  electric  lighting?  Service 
wires  are  of  no  use  whatever  if  placed  within  them  unless  man-holes  are 
provided  at  every  100  feet.  Through  mains  are  certainly  well  protected 
when  drawn  into  conduits,  but  at  a  great  expense.  No  engineer  would, 
I  think,  at  this  day,  risk  putting  a  conductor  in  any  conduit  which  be 
would  not  be  willing  to  trust  under  water  or  laid  directly  in  the  earth. 

Why  not  take  one  half  of  the  money  which  these  conduits  cost  and 
use  it  in  buying  thicker  lead  casing  and  bury  the  conductor  in  the  ground 
or  in  a  common  wooden  box? 

The  underground  conductor  of  the  future,  I  believe,  will  be  formed 
with  a  core  of  copper  cable,  thoroughly  insulated  by  any  of  the  standard 
and  well  tried 'compounds;  protected  by  close  fitting  lead  casing,  thick 
enough  to  resist  mechanical  injury,  and  buried  in  the  earth  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  it  may  be  tapped  at  any  point.  But  where  is  the  money  coming 
from  to  pay  for  these  conductors? 

Whenever  electric  light  plants  are  installed  in  a  thoroughly  mechani- 
cal and  substantial  manner,  with  due  regard  to  the  most  economical  pro- 
duction of  power,  so  that  the  electric  light  is  perfectly  reliable  and  ob 
tain*  public  confidence,  then  the  money  will  be  forthcoming. 

When  capital  enough  is  invested  in  electric  lighting  to  enable  it  to 
cope  with  the  vast  sums  which  have  been  accumulating  these  many 
years  in  the  gas  industry,  then  we  shall  see  our  dynamos  driven  by  the 
waste  heat  and  refuse  products  of  the  gas  works,  and  our  houses  will  be 
heated  by  gas  and  lighted  by  electricity, 

The  discussion  of  the  two  papers  just  read  was  as  follows: 

DISCUSSION. 

MB.  Stnnnr— The  statement  was  made  this  morning,  in  the  very  excel- 
lent paper  read  by  Mr,  Leggett,  that,  while  it  was  entirely  practicable  to 
work  telephone  and  telegraph  wires  underground,  it  was  not  practicable 
to  do  so  with  electric  light  wires.  I  remember  distinctly  that  six  years 
ago,  when  the  question  of  putting  wires  underground  in  Chicago  first 
came  up,  the  telephone  interest  gathered  its  experts  together,  and  in 
meeting  assembled  they  each  and  every  one  of  them  avowed  with  all  sin- 
cerity and  earnestness,  that,  while  it  wa«  possible  to  work  telegraph  and 
electric  light  wires  underground,  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  ope- 
rate telephone  wires  in  that  manner.  The  amount  of  crow  that  we  have 
been  compelled  to  eat  in  that  time  can  be  estimated,  when  it  it  under- 
stood that  there  are  two  thousand  miles  of  underground  wire  working  in 
Chicago  to-day.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  whole  electrical  interest  opposed 
the  measure,  and  left  no  stone  unturned  to  defeat  it.  The  more  they 
fought,  the  greater  became  the  general  clamor  for  the  removal  of  the 
wires.  The  same  thing  occurred  to  which  Mr,  Leggett  referred  as  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Detroit,— the  statements  pat  forth  in  good  faith  and  all 


214  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

truthfulness  by  the  electrical  fraternity  were  discredited  by  everybody 
on  the  other  side.  The  authorities  exercised  their  power  in  its  severest 
form  by  ordering  the  removal  of  every  pole  and  wire  from  the  public 
streets  within  a  specified  time.  The  prohibition  included  the  entire  city 
of  forty-eight  to  sixty  square  miles,  acres  upon  acres  of  which  are  vacant, 
miles  upon  miles  of  the  streets  of  which  are  sparsely  settled,  and  alleys 
in  passing  through  which  one  instinctively  holds  his  nose,  and  breathes 
as  little  as  possible. 

The  point  that  I  think  can  be  made  is,  that  it  is  not  the  best  policy  to 
fight  a  measure  in  which  the  public  seems  to  be  so  greatly  interested,  but 
to  find  a  way  to  give  them  ten  or  fifteen  per  cent,  of  what  they  ask  for, 
if,  in  reason  it  can  be  done.  I  think  now,  that,  had  this  course  been  pur- 
sued in  Chicago,  we  would  now  be  able  to  string  wires  in  the  air  outside 
of  a  limit  of  two  or  three  square  miles.  Chicago  has  a  thousand  arc 
lights  on  underground  circuits  in  the  center  of  the  city,  the  greater  num- 
ber of  which  are  in  the  districts  served  by  the  main  station  located  on 
the  Chicago  river,  at  Market  and  Washington  streets.  Most  of  the  light- 
ing is  east  of  this  point;  so  that  twenty-five  [circuits,  or  fifty  wires,  run 
practically  together  for  two  thousand  or  three  thousand  feet. 

When  this  station  was  established,  several  mouths  ago,  a  conduit  of 
twelve  creosoted  wooden  tubes  was  put  down  to  connect  with  the  Dor- 
sett  conduit,  built  four  years  ago.  The  Dorsett  conduit  is  made  up  of 
pipes  having  seven  ducts,  or  holes,  two  and  a  quarter  inches  each.  Six 
lead  cables  of  3-32  insulation,  No.  6  gauge,  were  drawn  into  each  duct. 
Lead  cables  were'used  in  preference  to  anything  else,  because  of  the  diffi- 
culties experienced  in  maintaining  the  insulation  where  other  makes— a 
good  many  of  them  considered  first-class — had  partly  or  wholly  failed. 
Many  of  the  conductors  having  no  lead  covering  have  done  and  are  doing 
good  service  in  various  parts  of  the  city;  but  in  the  business  portion, 
where  the  earth  is  saturated  with  water-gas  and  sewer-gas,  which  circu- 
lates more  or  less  freely  through  the  conduit,  nothing  but  lead  seems  ca- 
pable of  withstanding  their  influence.  The  six  cables  in  each  duct  were 
made  into  three  circuits, — three  positive  and  negative,— and  this  arrange- 
ment is  probably  responsible  for  some  of  the  trouble  experienced.  It 
was  found  that,  although  the  insulation  measurement  of  the  lead  cables 
in  the  conduit  was  very  high, — considerably  above  a  megohm, — and  the 
insulation  beyond  the  point  where  the  lead  cables  ended,  and  where 
some  other  wire  was  used,  was,  say,  five  hundred  thousand  ohms,  a 
short-circuit  would  form,  generally  within  a  thousand  feet  of  the  station 
between  the  two  sides  of  the  circuit.  The  heat  generated  at  the  point  of 
the  sbort-circuiting  would  melt  the  lead  in  the  adjacent  cables,  so  that  in 
one  instance  all  six  wires  were  rendered  useless.  Where  this  occurred  in 
the  Dorsett  conduit,  the  destruction  did  not  go  beyond  the  six  wires; 
while  in  the  creosoted  wooden  tubes,  ou  another  occasion,  not  only  were 
the  six  wires  destroyed,  but  the  inflammable  material  of  which  the  con- 
duit is  constructed  resulted  in  the  burning  out  of  the  entire  conduit  and 
the  sixty  cables  in  it.  The  cold  weather  of  three  months  had  frozen  the 
earth  to  a  depth  of  four  feet;  but  when  the  street  was  opened,  it  was 
found  that  the  fire  had  taken  the  frost  out  of  the  earth  below  a  foot  from 
the  surface,  and  that  there  was  left  for  a  distance  of  twelve  feet  a  few 
charred  sticks,  the  bare  copper  wires,  and,  in  the  bottom,  some  lumps  of 
lead.  Iron  pipes  were  put  in,  and  lead  cables  of  5  32  insulation  used, 
four  of  which  were  put  in  each  duct  or  iron  pipe.  This  heavier  insula- 
tion, coupled  with  the  redistributing  of  the  circuits,  so  that  positive  wires 
are  grouped  and  kept  away  from  negative  wires,  will  probably  result  in 
eliminating  this  source  of  trouble. 

Looking  for  the  cause  of  these  burn-outs,  it  was  found  that  they  oc- 
curred on  circuits  carrying  as  few  as  20  lights,  or  903  volts  and  10  am- 
p6res,  and  on  circuits  carrying  48  lights,  or  2,160  volts  and  10  amperes. 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  216 

They  generally  occurred  near  the  station,  although  there  was  an  insula- 
tion of  6  32  inches  between  the  two  sides  of  the  circuit  measuring  con- 
siderably above  a  megohm ;  and  there  were  weaker  places  beyond,  indi- 
cating that  the  nearer  the  station,  the  greater  is  the  liability  of  short- 
circuiting. 

It  seems  incredible  that  the  :j-32  inches  insulation  around  each  con- 
ductor would  not  carry  this  voltage,  while  the  same  make  of  cable  of  2-32 
carries  a  greater  voltage  in  another  part  of  the  city.  We  could  not,  in 
any  instance  of  a  burn  out,  find  that  an  abnormal  resistance  had  entered 
th"  circuit  beyond  the  place  where  the  burn  out  occurred.  On  the  con- 
trary, as  soon  as  the  damage  was  repaired,  it  was  found  that  the  circuit 
was  in  good  order.  Without  being  entirely  at  rest  as  to  the  exact  cause 
of  burn-outs,  we  have  adopted  what  might  be  called  a  whip  handle 
method  of  insulation, — very  heavy  at  the  station,  and  tapering  towards 
the  outer  end  of  the  circuit.  This,  it  is  expected,  will  enable  the  con- 
ductors to  hold  the  current  within  them  under  all  conditions. 

So  much  work  has  had  to  be  done  in  the  main  route,  on  account  of 
the  burn-outs,  that  we  have  had  to  make  almost  constant  use  of  the  man- 
holes in  the  conduit.  We  find  now  that  these  man-holes  are  all  too  small, 
and  must  be  increased  from  three  and  a  half  feet  in  diameter  to  six  feet, 
if  possible.  The  suggestion  is  made,  that  the  latter  size  ought  to  be 
secured  wherever  possible,  because  of  the  impossibility  of  properly  put- 
ting away  the  labyrinth  of  wires  and  cables  that  must  be  provided  for  at 
these  points. 

Mr.  T.  C.  SMITH — I  wish  to  state  that  our  company  here  in  Pittsburgh 
is  probably  as  much  interested  as  any  company  in  the  country  in  aerial 
wires.  We  have  an  enormous  amount  of  pole  line  already  set  up  in  this 
city,  and  we  are  doing  immense  business  from  that  pole  line;  and  I  do 
not  know  that  we  should  feel  inclined  to  take  the  whole  of  that  wire 
down  and  go  underground  within  a  year,  or  within  two  years.  But  it  is 
very  evident  that  the  public  demand  is  urgent  that  the  wires  be  put 
underground  wherever  feasible;  and  our  company,  without  being  asked 
by  the  city,  and  without  any  ordinances  being  passed  to  compel  us,  has 
voluntarily  undertaken  to  try  the  experiment  thoroughly.  We  have  seen 
a  great  many  people  try  to  put  their  wires  underground  and  in  most  of 
the  cases  which  have  come  under  my  personal  observation  the  work  has 
been  done  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is  not  a  wonder  that  the  cables  burned 
out,  or  that  they  ever  got  current  through  them.  As  Mr.  Smith,  I  think, 
of  Detroit,  has  remarked,  it  is  much  more  a  mechanical  question  than 
an  electrical  one.  With  regard  to  one  of  the  conduits  of  which  Mr.  Leg- 
gett  spoke  in  his  paper,  the  conduit  in  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  I 
happened,  at  the  very  time  that  the  conduit  was  being  put  down  there,  to 
be  connected  with  another  company  in  Philadelphia,  which  was  also  put- 
ting in  underground  conduits.  The  underground  conduits  which  our 
company  laid  were  nothing  but  a  lot  of  tin  tubes  put  in  a  wooden  box 
filled  with  pitch,  and  we  hauled  into  it  first-class  lead-covered,  insu- 
lated cables.  We  run  them  for  six  or  seven  months  without  the 
slightest  hitch  and  without  a  single  burn-out.  At  the  time  that  the  cast- 
iron  conduit  was  laid  in  Chestnut  street,  it  was  laid  without  any  attempt 
whatever  to  keep  it  water-tight  or  air-tisht.  It  was  nothing  but  an  iron 
trough  in  two  halves,  and  they  made  the  absurd  attempt  to  keep  it  air- 
tight by  putting  putty  along  the  edges.  When  the  cables  were  put  in 
there,  I  saw  a  good  many  being  put  in,  and  in  some  of  the  cases  where 
lead  cables  were  used,  the  ends  of  the  cable  were  simply  stripped  for  two 
inches  of  the  lead,  the  conductors  spliced,  and  three  or  four  turns  of 
kerite  tape  put  around  it ;  yet  that  has  been  cited  as  a  dismal  failure  of 
underground  wire.  Now,  I  am  not  by  any  means  arguing  that  all  wires 
must  go  underground,  for  the  simple"  reason  that  companies  that  have 
spent  an  amount  of  money,  and  have  large  vested  interests  in  poles,  lines 


216  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

and  wires,  cannot  be  compelled  by  any  equity  to  remove  the  whole  of 
that  property  and  put  it  underground.  In  a  great  many  cases  it  would 
be  equivalent  to  sending  the  company  out  of  business.  But  I  do  think 
that  companies  should  endeavor,  in  the  central  parts  of  cities,  where  the 
streets  are  crowded,  and  the  buildings  are  jhigh,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  the  overhead  wires  are  a  nuisance, — that  they  should  make  an  honest 
endeavor  to  put  them  underground. 

With  first-class  work,  I  see  no  reason  why  underground  wires  should 
not  be  successful.  We  have  heard  a  great  deal  about  the  punching  of 
holes  through  these  cables.  Any  one  who  has  had  anything  to  do  with 
arc  light  machinery  knows  that  if  you  take  a  forty-light  Thomson-Hous- 
ton machine,  or  a  sixty-light  Brush  machine,  and  open  the  circuit  sud- 
denly, you  will  discharge  the  field  magnets  into  the  line;  and  if  there  is 
any  weak  spot  in  the  insulation,  it  will  go  through  it  at  that  instant.  We 
have  demonstrated  it  over  and  over  again.  I  think,  if  the  gentlemen 
who  are  trying  underground  wires  will  simply  shut  their  dynamos  down 
regularly,  by  either  short-circuiting  the  armature  or  shunting  the  field  cir- 
cuit that  they  will  do  away  with  a  great  deal  of  this  punching  of  holes 
in  the  cables.  In  laying  down  three  or  four  miles  of  lead-covered  cables, 
we  cannot  expect  to  find  them  perfect  in  every  part.  There  will  be  pin- 
holes  occasionally,  and  the  best  inspection  will  not  always  discover  them: 
but  we  have  no  right  to  assume,  because  such  things  as  that  occur,  that 
the  plan  is  impossible.  There  is  not  a  man  here  present  who  has  been  in 
the  electric  business  for  a  year  who  has  not  had  a  hundred  cases  of  open 
circuits  and  short  circuits  on  his  overhead  lines.  The  question  is  not, 
whether  underground  wires  are  feasible  or  not,  but  whether  we  cannot 
get  them  established  with  about  the  same  trouble  we  took  to  get  our  over- 
head lines  in  position.  I  am  interested  in  a  company  in  Philadelphia 
which  is  running  the  underground  system  entirely.  We  started  with  a 
two  hundred  volt  direct  current  system.  We  knew  that,  if  we  started 
that  company,  the  wires  would  have  to  be  underground;  that  there  were 
no  more  overhead  ordinances  going  to  be  passed.  We  realized  what  we 
were  attempting,  and  we  resolved  to  spare  no  expense  to  do  the  thing 
properly.  When  we  purchased  our  cables  from  the  company — they  were 
all  lead-covered  cables— we  told  that  company  to  send  us  their  most  ex- 
perienced men  for  the  splicing  and  laying  of  those  cables.  We  paid  their 
expenses  cheerfully.  We  not  only  had  them  make  the  joints,  but  we 
watched  them.  We  started  at  the  station,  and  turned  the  current  into 
those  lines.  We  ran  there  for  six  months  without  a  trace  of  leakage,  arid 
then  we  changed  over  to  the  alternating  system. 

We  put  a  thousand  volts  into  those  cables;  and  they  are  running 
to-day,  and  have  been  for  nine  months,  without  a  single  ground  having 
occurred  on  them.  We  have  fifteen  miles  of  cable  buried,  all  told.  We 
have  had  the  question  before  us,  as  to  whether  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
run  the  alternating  current  in  the  same  box  with  telephone  and  telegraph 
cables.  At  the  request  of  Chief  Walker,  the  City  Electrician,  we  ran,  in 
the  Long-Distance  Telegraph  Company's  conduit,  fifteen  hundred  feet  of 
three-conductor  cable.  On  the  two  outer  wires  we  put  our  alternating 
current,  and  we  placed  a  twenty-light  converter  in  the  chief's  office.  Into 
the  third  wire  we  connected  his  telephone,  and  there  is  not  a  trace  of 
interference  on  it.  The  telephone  company,  of  course,  had  given  Chief 
Walker  permission  to  put  that  cable  in  their  box;  but  they  were  a  little 
nervous  about  the  result,  being  afraid  it  would  knock  out  their  whole 
system  between  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  After  we  had  been  run- 
ning about  a  week,  they  came  to  us,  and  wanted  to  know  when  we  were 
going  to  start  up.  We  told  them  that  we  had  been  running  about  a  week, 
at  which  they  were  very  greatly  surprised;  and  they  have  made  no  ob- 
jection to  the  occupation  of  the  box  by  us.  Of  course,  I  have  had  no 
real  experience  with  arc  lights  underground — that  is,  high-tension  cur- 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  217 

rents — beyond  the  fact  that,  when  I  put  down  my  lead  cables  in  Pitts- 
burgh, I  use  a  sixty-five-light  Brush  machine  to  test  them  with.  I  would 
not,  when  testing  them,  subject  them  to  the  strain  of  opening  the  circuit 
suddenly  upon  them;  I  do  not  think  it  would  be  policy  to  do  so.  Chief 
Walker,  in  Philadelphia,  is  running  some  four  or  five  miles  of  lead-cov- 
ered cable  on  his  arc  circuits.  He  has  had  one  or  two  burn-outs.  He 
had  to  string  an  air. line  for  one  section,  because  he  could  not  dig  up  the 
streets, — being  winter.  But  he  did  not  expect  to  put  down  a  perfect  job 
the  first  time. 

There  is  one  thing  I  would  like  to  ask  some  questions  on.  It  has 
been  stated  that  a  direct-current  arc  light  cannot  go  underground.  I  do 
not  think  that  the  gentlemen  who  make  that  statement  fully  realize  what 
a  tremendous  weapon  they  are  putting  in  the  hands  of  the  press  against 
them.  I  am  not  speaking  now  as  an  alternating  current  man,  but  as  a 
member  of  the  Association,  and  as  representing  a  lighting  company  which 
is  interested  in  overhead  wires  in  so  far  as  they  do  not  interfere  seriously 
with  public  safety.  We  have  proved  beyond  any  question  that  the  alter- 
nating current  can  be  put  underground,  and  can  be  put  in  lead-covered 
cables,  without  any  danger  of  loss  of  current,  If  the  direct  wires  cannot 
go  underground,  the  alternating  can  ;  and  .it  may  be  that  we  shall  be 
called  upon  to  put  in  new  apparatus  which  we  do  not  want,  simply  be- 
cause it  can  go  underground.  I  think  that  in  a  case  of  this  kind  it  is  not 
the  technical  press  we  have  to  consider;  they  can  realize  the  difficulty 
and  danger  and  troubles  of  going  underground;  but  it  is  the  public  press 
we  have  to  consider.  While  they  certainly  do  not  always  express  public 
opinion,  they  have  a  good  deal  to  do  with  molding  it;  and  a  persistent 
attack  by  the  press  on  a  lighting  company  will  compel  it  to  do  what  they 
desire.  I  think  the  sooner  this  question  of  underground  wire  is  faced 
fairly,  the  better  it  will  be  for  all  of  us.  I  have  had  a  good  deal  of  con- 
sultation at  various  times  with  Chief  Walker  in  Philadelphia;  and  he 
made  the  statement  to  me  that  some  eighteen  months  ago,  before  he 
would  recommend  the  city  to  spend  any  money  in  the  experiment,  he 
wished  to  make  a  test  of  a  certain  cable,  and  he  got  a  length  of  three 
hundred  feet  of  cable.  This  was  cut  into  two  parts,  and  placed  on  the 
two  poles, — one  on  each  pole  of  a  Brush  sixty-five-light  dynamo,  laid  in 
the  yard  of  the  station  with  the  mud  and  water  all  around,  and  then 
connected  with  the  air-line.  After  they  had  run  a  few  days  a  fault  was 
developed  in  the  cable,  and  there  was  found  to  be  a  hole  punched  right 
through  the  insulation.  I  am  not  sure,  but  I  think  the  other  connection 
was  found  at  the  end  of  the  wire,  where  it  was  bared  to  attach  to  the 
air  line.  The  defective  part  was  cut  out,  and  he  has  it  in  his  office;  and, 
as  I  was  under  the  impression  that  he  had  been  using  that  wire  in  that  way 
ever  since,  I  telegraphed  him  this  morning  as  follows:  "Is  the  three 
hundred  feet  of  cable  originally  laid  in  the  yard  still  in  daily  opera- 
tion ?"  I  received  the  answer  from  him,  "To  the  best  of  my  knowl- 
edge, it  is."  And  I  will  ask  Mr.  Law  whether  that  is  the  case  or  not. 

Mr.  LAW — That  cable  has  not  been  in  use  for  the  last  five  months  at 
least. 

Mr.  SMITH — Very  good.  Then  Chief  Walker  is  mistaken.  But  at  the 
same  time  he  laid  a  good  deal  of  cable  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  and 
that  cable  is  still  in  use.  Now,  the  statement  has  been  made  that  in 
Chicago  the  average  capacity  of  the  machines  was  forty-five  lights,  and 
the  average  circuits  twenty  lights.  I  do  not  know,  butl  think  the  man 
hi  charge  of  the  station  has  shown  poor  judgment  in  dividing  his  cir- 
cuits. 

Mr.  SUNNY — If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  explain  that  in  one  word. 
We  have  put  out  more  circuits  than  the  present  business  requires. 


218  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

Mr.  SMITH — Exactly.  I  presume  that  you  have  done  as  I  have  done 
in  Pittsburgh.  I  have  kept  all  iny  circuits  the  size  of  my  smallest  unit. 
But  the  fact  that  the  circuits  and  machines  do  not  agree  is  no  proof  that 
it  was  done  because  the  wire  was  defective.  I  would  like  to  call  on  Mr. 
Wilber,  of  the  Jenney  Company,  who  has  laid  a  good  deal  of  cable  in 
Philadelphia, — I  would  like  to  ask  him  if  his  cable  is  in  use;  and  I  would 
like  to  ask  Mr.  Wilber  to  give  his  experience. 

Mr.  WILBER— I  would  say,  for  the  information  of  this  Association, 
that  last  spring  we  laid  over  two  miles  of  underground  cable  in  Philadel- 
phia, in  the  grounds  of  Girard  College.  We  are  running  forty-seven 
lights  on  two  twenty-five-light  machines.  We  have  never  experienced  a 
particle  of  trouble  with  the  cable,  from  the  time  it  was  laid  up  to  date. 
Where  the  cables  came  out  at  the  top,  and  connected  with  overhead  wires, 
there  have  been  one  or  two  grounds  and  leaks  and  lightning  troubles,  but 
no  serious  defect  of  the  cable.  From  our  experience,  there  is  some  small 
grain  of  truth  in  the  claim  made,  that  you  cannot  get  as  great  a  number 
of  lights  out  of  a  given  dynamo  capacity  in  running  underground  as  you 
can  on  overhead  wires.  With  that  exception,  I  do  not  know  that  there 
is  any  serious  difficulty  in  running  arc-light  currents  underground,  unless 
it  is  that  of  expense,  which  is  sometimes  prohibitory. 

.   Mr.  LEGGETT— How  long  is  the  longest  conduit  that  you  have  in  the 
Girard  College  grounds  ? 

Mr.  WILBER— It  is  all  one  circuit,  sir.  It  is  about  two  miles  and  an 
eighth,  I  should  judge.  I  do  not  remember  the  exact  length.  It  is  all 
one  circuit,  burning  forty -seven  lights  on  it. 

Mr.  LEGGETT — You  go  out  and  come  back  through  the  same  conduit  ? 

Mr.  WILBER — Yes,  sir,  side  by  side.  It  is  the  Standard  cable,  laid  in 
creosoted  boxes,  side  by  side.  They  come  back  in  the  same  box. 

Mr.  LEGGETT — Something  less  than  a  mile  in  length. 

Mr.  WILBER — The  main  circuit  is  about  a  mile  in  length.  They  loop 
out  to  the  different  towers  and  different  places  where  we  have  lights. 

Mr.  LAW — I  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Wilber  if  those  conduits  do  not 
pass  through  passage-ways  that  go  from  one  -building  to  another,  and  if 
they  are  not  kept  at  a  very  high  degree  of  temperature? 

Mr.  WILBER — I  neglected  to  state,  and  it  is  a  very  important  matter, 
that  the  buildings  of  Girard  College  are  heated  by  steam,  and  these  steam- 
pipes  are  carried  through  a  brick  conduit.  We  got  the  benefit  of  those 
brick  conduits  as  far  as  they  went,  from  the  engine-room  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  grounds  up  to  the  farthest  end  of  the  building.  We  ran 
through  this  brick  conduit,  laid  our  wires  in  boxes  in  the  conduit,  and 
then  branched  out  to  the  towers  underground.— laying  it  simply  under- 
ground. And  the  duct  is  always  heated  in  winter  up  to  a  very  high  tem- 
perature, and  in  summer  it  is  not  equalty  warm,  because  they  have  a  cir- 
culation of  air  by  fans,  etc.,  to  keep  up  a  circulation  of  air  through  the 
tunnel.  But  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  great  amount  of  dampness  in 
there. 

The  PRESIDENT — How  much  of  your  conduit  runs  in  the  duct  ? 

Mr.  WILBER— Perhaps  from  two  thirds  to  three-fourths  of  the  entire 
circuit  is  in  this  brick  duct.  Those  branches  out  to  the  towers  run 
through  the  ground. 

Mr.  DE  CAMP — Two  papers  have  been  read  to-day  on  this  subject  of 
underground  conductors,  one  for  and  the  other  against;  but  there  is  one 
thing  in  which  they  both  agree, — perhaps  two,  but  one  in  particular, — and 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  219 

that  is  that  we  must  have  a  perfect  insulation.  The  second  is,  that  it  is 
onl}T  a  matter  of  cost.  Now,  I^believe  that  the  first  one  is  true,  and  no 
station  will  be  operating  a  complete  underground  system  until  it  secures 
that  perfect  insulation.  In  regard  to  the  point  that  it  is  a  question  of 
cost.  I  think  that  ought  to  be  left  out  until  some  gentleman  is  prepared  to 
say  just  what  that  cost  will  be — not  that  it  is  only  a  matter  of  cost  that  is 
keeping  the  companies  from  doing  it,  even  keeping  them  from  making  a 
fair,  proper,  and  unbiased  test.  The  question  of  cost  is  certainly  one  of 
very  great  importance.  Electric  lighting  from  central  stations  is  now 
nine  years  old.  There  are  organizations  who  have  back  of  them  prob- 
ably as  good  business  talent  as  ever  backed  up  any  new  enterprise,  and, 
as  a  rule,  they  have  been  organized  for  business  purposes.  They  are  offi- 
cered and  controlled  by  men  who  do  not  hesitate  to  invest  their  money 
in  things  that  they  think  will  ultimately  pay, — not  to  get  their  money 
back,  because,  if  that  is  the  case,  they  have  been,  without  exception,  I 
guess,  grievously  disappointed.  They  are  waiting  for  their  dividends 
yet.  All  know — if  they  do  not  they  can  find  out  very  easily — that  the 
returns  upon  the  capital  invested  in  electric  lighting  have  not  been  large. 
They  have  not  been  such  that  would  justify  the  investment  of  money  in 
a  business  which  is  likely  to  undergo  rapid  changes  or  rapid  improve- 
ments, carrying  with  them  a  large  depreciation  in  the  value  of  their  pro- 
perty. But  the  business  which  they  are  doing  to  day  is  established;  the 
prices  are  established  upon  the  basis  of  the  cost  of  their  present  plants; 
and  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  any 
company  to  go  before  the  public  to-day,  and  advance  the  price  of  their 
lights.  The  prices  of  electric  lights  are  high ;  they  always  have  been, 
they  are  high  to-day.  They  are  lower  than  they  were  when  they  started, 
but  they  are  high  to-day,  and  that  is  the  view  that  every  consumer  takes 
of  it.  Therefore  you  cannot  advance  your  price.  The  cost  of  an  under- 
ground conductor,  those  that  are  said  to  be  entirely  reliable  to-day,  is 
four  or  five  times  as  great  as  that  of  the  aerial  wires  which  we  are  using, 
and  using  successfully.  Now,  in  addition  to  that,  you  have  got  to  add 
the  difference  in  cost  in  putting  those  wires  down.  It  will  run  the  cost 
of  your  construction  up  to  an  enormous  amount.  That  has  all  got  to  be 
provided  for.  I  will  anticipate  what  has  been  said,  and,  I  presume,  will 
be  repeated, — that  after  you  have  done  that,  your  expenses  cease  prac- 
tically. That  I  do  not  believe,  from  our  own  experience.  I  would  not 
venture  to  say  that  until  I  had  had  a  long  experience  in  it.  I  do  not 
believe  it  is  the  case 

In  regard  to  the  lead-cased  cables — I  cannot  give  the  reasons  for  it — 
there  has  been  a  tendency  to  short-circuit  between  the  wire  and  the  lead. 
That  shows  of  itself  an  imperfect  insulation.  Your  lead  is  no  insulator; 
it  is  a  protector,  and  it  does  not  protect  when  your  insulation  is  imper- 
fect. We  do  not  have  those  troubles  with  overhead  wires.  I  will  state 
in  brief  the  conditions  of  the  underground  wires  referred  to  by  Mr. 
Walker,  and  I  will  leave  it  without  any  comments  as  to  whether  that  is 
a  demonstration.  I  will  only  go  back  to  the  point  where  I  have  had  the 
general  management  of  the  company  that  is  operating  those  wires.  We 
start  out  from  the  station,  and  reach  the  first  terminal  of  the  conduit.  I 
will  give  the  figures  :  3,375  feet  of  single  aerial  wire  from  station  to  en- 
trance of  conduit;  thence  by  1,412  feetfof  single  wire  one  side  of  the  cir- 
cuit from  open  conduit;  then  through  conduit  9,500  feet,  making  a  loop 
of  19,000  feet  of  lead-cased  cable  placed  in  a  box  six  inches  square,  and 
filled  in  solid  with  pitch.  Thence  by  30,500  feet  of  overhead  wife  one 
side  of  the  circuit  to  the  station,  making  a  circuit  of  something  less  than 
eight  miles,  ( f  which  about  four  and  a  half  miles  is  underground,  and 
part  of  which  is  one  side  of  the  circuit  only.  The  upper  section  of  that 
circuit  is  put  in  first. 

About  half  of  this  9,500  feet  was  filled  in  solid  lead-cased  cable;  and  I 


220  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

agreed  with  Mr.  Walker,  at  the  time  that  it  was  put  in,  that  it  was  the 
best  I  knew  of — although  I  did  not  know  anything  about  it;  it  was  well 
made.  That  cable  gave  out  once.  The  defect  was  in  the  lamp-post, 
but  it  was  a  sbort  circuit  between  the  cable  itself  and  the  lead.  It  was 
put  into  the  lamp-post  carefully,  and  there  was  no  particular  reason  why 
it  should  be  there,  so  far  as  anybody  could  find  out.  Afterwards  a  de- 
fect in  the  circuit  occurred  underground.  It  being  winter  time,  and  the 
ground  being  frozen,  we  strung  the  wire  from  one  lamp-post  to  another. 
There  has  been  since  then  one  defect  of  the  same  kind,  which  has  been 
removed.  There  is  another  one  that  has  been  cut  out  all  winter  between 
lamp-posts  for  the  same  reason,  and  strung  on  poles;  it  is  underground. 
More  recently  there  is  another  section  between  poles  cut  out  in  that  part 
of  the  circuit  in  the  open  duct,  with  one  side  of  the  circuit  only.  In 
addition  to  that,  we  have  had  what  did  not  concern  me,  notwithstanding 
our  experience  in  the  Chestnut  street  conduit;  that  is  a  comparatively 
new  section  of  the  city — at  least,  the  gas  mains  are  comparatively  new. 
Down  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  the  gas-mains  are  very  old  and  very 
defective;  but  in  this  part  of  the  city  the  conduits  were  comparatively- 
new,  and  the  leakage  of  the  gas  was  not  supposed  to  be  to  a  degree  that 
would  be  likely  to  interfere  with  the  conduit. 

There  have  been  three  explosions  in  these  man-holes  within  the  last 
three  months.  I  was  favored  with  being  on  the  spot  when  one  of  them 
occurred.  It  was  in  the  first  man-hole,  where  the  wire  came  off  the  poles, 
and  into  the  side  of  the  man-hole  entering  the  duct.  When  that  man-hole 
was  blown  off,  it  was  broken  in  three  pieces.  The  cover  weighed  about 
four  hundred  or  five  hundred  pounds,  I  think.  In  the  bottom  of  the 
man-hole  were  three  or  four  inches  of  water.  I  happened  to  notice  a 
little  spattering  of  solder  in  the  water.  The  man  put  his  hand  right 
under  the  lead,  and  he  found  a  small  hole  where  the  current  had  gone 
through  and  melted  the  lead.  There  was  no  contact  there  at  all.  It  came 
clean  out  of  the  man-hole,  and  went  into  the  duct.  Those  are  troubles 
that  are  purely,  in  my  judgment,  incidental  to  the  conduit;  but  there  has 
been  another  "trouble  which  I  think  will  always  exist  with  lead-cased 
wire,  while  it  might  not  with  some  insulated  cable  without  the  lead. 
That  is  the  difficulty  of  getting  your  low  terminals  safe  at  the  lamp  ter- 
minal. However,  that  difficulty  would  be  overcome  in  some  way  or 
other.  But  it  is  the  question  of  underground  wires  themselves.  That  is 
the  history  in  this  short  time  of  that  effort;  that  is,  about  eight  miles.  I 
just  submit  whether  any  company  would  want  to  enter  into  the  task  of 
putting  down  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  on  the  strength 
of  that  experience;  whether  they  would  take  the  risk  of  pronouncing 
that  sufficiently  successful  for  entering  into  a  general  system.  For  my 
part,  I  would  not.  It  would  not  take  me  long  to  decide  that. 

In  regard  to  the  Chestnut  street  conduit,  which  Mr.  Smith  referred 
to,  that  is  an  iron  conduit,  and  my  objection  to  iron  conduits  would  be 
pretty  much  the  same  as  it  would  be  to  any  lead  or  any  metallic  casing 
outside  of  the  insulation  itself.  I  think  the  effect  would  be  very  likely 
to  be  the  same.  But  there  is  no  getting  away  from  the  fact,  that,  as  a 
structure  for  the  convenient  handling  of  wires,  the  Chestnut  street  con- 
duit is  as  good,  if  not  the  best,  that  has  ever  been  brought  to  my  atten- 
tion. It  is  certainly  a  very  convenient  thing.  It  is  a  very  expensive 
thing.  As  to  being  well  laid,  I  doubt  whether  it  was;  but  within  the 
last  year  that  conduit  has  been  nearly  reconstructed  from  one  end  to  the 
other;  it  certainly  has  from  Seventh  street  to  Broad.  It  has  been  dug 
up  and  taken  out,  and  relaid ;  and  the  reason  it  has  not  been  constructed 
below  that  is,  that  we  have  had  a  pile  of  brick  on  top  of  it.  so  that  we 
could  not  get  at  it.  A  blower  is  constantly  kept  going  to  keep  that  free 
from  gas.  The  ventilation  we  have  given  to  it  by  making  connections 
between  the  conduit  and  the  iron-lamp-posts  open  at  the  top  has  only 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  221 

been  a  partial  remedy.  I  telegraphed  Mr.  Walter  F.  Smith,  superintendent 
of  that  station,  to  be  here.  I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  he  has  had  as 
much  experience,  if  not  more,  in  the  putting  of  wires  underground,  and 
the  handling  of  underground  wires.  In  fact,  that  is  his  education.  He  has 
done  very  little  outside  of  that.  He  has  been  identified  with  those  con- 
duits almost  ever  since  they  were  started.  He  is  a  man  of  about  the 
ordinary  intelligence.  He  is  an  electrician.  He  is  a  level-headed  man  ; 
and  what  he  does  and  has  done  since  he  has  been  managing  that  station 
he  has  done  thoroughly  and  well.  Therefore  I  infer  that  the  work  which 
he  has  done  there  has  been  done  as  well  as  anybody  can  do  it.  He  has 
made  mistakes.  He  feels  that  wires  can  be  put  underground,  but  he 
strikes  that  snag  of  expense.  He  is  not  prepared  to  say  it  could  be  done 
at  the  price  at  which  any  company  could  afford  to  do  it.  We  had  that 
station,  and  it  was  an  elephant  on  our  hands.  It  was  not  paying;  but 
there  was  a  certain  expense  which  we  were  subject  to,  whether  that  sta- 
tion was  running  or  not.  We  were  running  a  hundred  and  twenty-five 
arc  lights  from  that  station,  and  we  needed  the  income  from  them. 

After  the  last  explosion, — notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Mr.  Smith 
thought  that  the  system  of  ventilating  that  conduit  by  a  blower  was  a 
safe  one,  we  had  this  last  explosion ;  fortunately  the  first  one  that  ever 
did  any  damage  to  an  extent  that  we  had  a  claim  brought  against  us, — 
and  after  giving  the  thing  proper  consideration,  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  company  could  not  afford  to  run  that  station,  and  take  the  risk 
of  having  to  pay  such  damages,  either  to  property  or  to  life;  and  we 
abandoned  it,  and  have  converted  it  into  a  small  incandescent  station. 
Now,  in  that  station  we  are  using  a  current  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 
volts,  I  think,  and  it  is  true  with  that  current  we  have  had  no  trouble. 
Our  circuits  are  short,  and  we  have  put  in  the  best  wire  we  knew  how. 
In  regard  to  the  other  explosions  which  occurred  in  there,  there  were 
seven  of  them,  arising  out  of  the  leakage  of  illuminating  gas — I  believe 
it  is  generally  admitted  by  the  committee  appointed  by  the  University 
to  investigate  it,  that  it  was  illuminating  gas,  and  not  an  admixture  of 
illuminating  and  sewer  gas,  and  that  the  explosion  was  caused  by  the 
short  circuiting  of  the  wire.  Mr.  Smith  has  had  some  bad  wire  in  there, 
and  he  has  had  some  very  good  wire  in  there.  Now,  here  is  another 
thing  that  we  ought  not  to  overlook, — that  the  prices  will  not  be  in- 
creased, at  least,  and  that  there  is  a  much  greater  prospect  of  having  to 
decrease  them.  With  the  scale  of  expenses  brought  as  low  as  we  have 
been  able  to  bring  them,  with  six  or  seven  years'  experience  to  reveal  to 
us  our  defects  and  deficiencies  in  administration,  we  start  out  to  increase 
the  cost  of  our  construction,  without  being  able  to  get  any  compensation 
for  it.  The  only  offset  that  we  have  got  to  that  is  to  save  in  the  mileage 
of  our  wire,  and  it  is  just  exactly  what  Mr.  Smith  is  doing  in  making 
his  circuits  out  to  correspond  to  the  smallest  machine.  Now,  we  will 
double  up  our  circuits,  and  we  will  double  up  our  machines;  or  we  will 
make  our  circuits  longer,  and  double  our  voltage.  That  is  the  only  off- 
set that  I  can  see  to  compensate  us  for  this  enormous  increase  in  expense. 
We  have  not  only  got  to  provide  for  that  twenty-five  hundred  or  three 
thousand  volts  which  we  are  using  now,  but  we  have  got  to  provide  for 
double  or  treble  that;  and  I  am  sure  that  if  this  was  an  experiment 
which  would  cost  a  trifling  sum,  that  would  be  the  thing;  but  here  is  an 
experiment  you  cannot  make  except  at  a  very  great  cost.  I  have  had 
correspondence,  not  knowing  that  Mr.  Leggett  had  had  correspondence 
to  the  same  purpose,  and  the  statements  that  I  get  are  almost  identical 
with  his  own. 

MR.  T.  C.  SMITH:  In  speaking  of  the  conduit  on  Chestnut  Street,  I 
was  perfectly  aware  of  the  circumstance?  under  which  the  Brush  Com- 
pany took  hold  of  that  conduit, — that  it  was  work  put  down  before  they 
got  hold  of  it.  Mr.  De  Camp  did  not  make  it  quite  clear.  He  seemed  to 


222  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

tliink  that  I  did  not  consider  Mr.  Walter  F.  Smith  a  competent  man. 
My  best  answer  is  that  I  am  using  the  apparatus  which  he  uses,  for  put- 
ting in  the  conduits  here  in  Pittsburgh.  I  think  it  is  because  a  reliable 
and  conscientious  man  did  the  work,  that  your  incandescent  lights  are 
running  as  satisfactorily  as  they  are.  If  the  work  that  he  has  done  on 
the  low  tension  cables  had  been  no  better  than  the  work  done  on  the  old 
cables,  they  would  have  given  you  the  same  trouble.  I  do  not  think  two 
or  three  burn-outs  on  the  first  cable  ever  laid  has  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  question  of  success  of  underground  conduits.  It  is  purely  a  question 
of  policy  for  the  companies.  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  company  that 
has  a  system  of  overhead  wiring  that  could  put  a  whole  system  under- 
ground without  going  into  bankruptcy.  The  main  question  is,  can  they 
not  make  some  endeavor  to  put  the  central  part  of  their  wiring — in  the 
central  part  of  the  city— underground?  And  by  and  by  I  think  that  they 
will  cut  off  a  great  deal  of  this  public  opposition  to  their  wires.  In  Phil- 
adelphia, ordinances  have  been  passed  allowing  overhead  wires  to  be  put 
in  the  suburbs;  but  on  the  main  graded  streets  of  the  city  I  think  the 
electric  light  companies  will  find  their  best  policy  to  put  some  of  their 
wires  underground. 

Mr.  WRIGHT  :  As  representing  a  company  which  operates  an  alternat- 
ing system,  conveying  it  underground,  I  would  like  to  make  one  or  two 
remarks.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  matter  of  underground  work  has  got 
to  be  considered.  The  public  will  force  us  to  face  it.  We  do  not  intend 
to  stand  just  where  we  are  in  electric  lighting.  Electric  lighting  has 
come,  not  only  to  stay,  but  to  increase;  and  if  we  wish  to  do  a  larger 
business,  we  have  got  to  do  a  general  business;  and  in  a  general  busi- 
ness we  will  be  compelled  to  place  our  wires  underground,  I  think. 
However,  I  will  simply  state  to  you,  gentlemen,  that  I  have  been  operat- 
ing for  some  time  an  underground  system.  It  is  not  very  extensive,  and 
it  has  not  been  operating  for  a  great  length  of  time, — some  four  months; 
but  during  that  period,  and  possibly  during  the  worst  part  of  the  year, 
—during  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  we  are  troubled  with  water  in  our 
conduits  and  man-holes, — we  have  had  no  trouble  whatever  in  that  con- 
duit, and  the  only  occasion  on  which  I  have  had  to  open  man-holes  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  to  my  conduit  were  due  to  outside  causes.  Our 
buildings  are  connected  directly  at  the  man-holes  and  junction-boxes;  and 
on  two  occasions,  when  my  men  were  connecting  converters,  they  short- 
circuited  and  blew  out  the  safety  fuse,  and  on  these  occasions  only  we 
opened  the  conduit.  When  I  left  Springfield  we  had  fifteen  inches  of 
packed  snow  on  the  streets.  Our  company  do  not  pretend  that  they 
were  doing  a  big  thing  in  doing  the  underground  work.  It  was  simply 
because  they  were  compelled  to.  We  have  no  poles  there.  All  our  arc 
wires  are  on  structures  on  the  buildings.  It  was  impossible  for  us  to  do  any 
work  there  unless  we  went  underground.  I  think  it  will  be  found  in  the 
next  year  or  two  that  a  very  large  number  of  companies  in  this  country 
will  be  placed  in  exactly  the  same  position;  and,  that  being  so,  we  must 
all  look  to  the  future,  and  try  and  learn  all  that  we  can  about  under- 
ground work.  My  advice  to  our  company  would  have  been  to  wait  and 
let  other  people  experiment,  had  we  not  been  compelled  to  go  under- 
ground. However,  Ve  are  running  underground.  The  work  is  not 
costing  a  great  deal  of  money,  and  1  do  not  expect  that  we  will  have  a 
great  deal  of  trouble.  I  simply  state  that  we  are  doing  this  as  a  proof 
that  it  can  be  done,  for  a  short  time,  at  all  events;  and  if  it  can  be  done 
for  a  short  time,  it  can  be  done  for  a  long  time. 

SYSTEMS    OF    UNDERGROUND    LINES. 

Inasmuch  as  this  question  of  underground  wires  must  soon 
be  met  in  all  the  large  cities,  it  is  well  to  consider  what  system 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  223 

should  be  adopted.  The  principal  systems  of  electrical  sub- 
ways may  be  divided,  first,  as  to  their  material  composition, 
and  second,  as  to  their  mechanical  construction,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  wires  are  placed  in  them. 

As  to  material  composition,  subways  are:  first,  of  insulating 
material,  such  as  wood,  glass,  concrete,  etc.,  etc.;  second,  of 
conducting  material,  such  as  iron. 

As  to  mechanical  construction,  subways  are,  generally 
speaking:  first,  tunnel  systems;  second,  "drawiug-in"  systems; 
third,  solid  systems;  fourth,  "dropping-in"  systems;  fifth, 
combined  systems. 

TUNNEL  SYSTEMS,  or  those  where  space  is  provided  under- 
ground sufficient  to  allow  the  passage  to  and  fro  of  men  who 
place  the  wires  within  the  subway,  could  be  recommended, 
were  unlimited  time  and  money  at  the  disposal  of  the  city  or 
the  private  company;  but  the  expense  of  such  a  system  pre- 
cludes the  adoption  of  such  a  plan  in  general.  If  ever  under- 
ground railroads  become  a  feature  of  city  transportation,  then, 
perhaps,  the  tunnel  can  be  used  for  some  of  the  future  trunk 
line  cables.  In  Paris,  where  the  foundations  of  the  city  are 
honeycombed  in  all  directions  by  large  sewers,  such  a  plan  is 
practicable  and  admirable,  but  it  is  not  to  be  thought  of  in 
most  of  the  American  cities. 

DRAWING-IN  SYSTEMS,  or  those  where  man-holes  are  pro- 
vided in  the  streets,  connected  by  tubes  or  pipes  through  which 
the  wires  can  be  drawn,  are  next  in  prominence  and  conven- 
ience to  tunnel  systems. 

SOLID  SYSTEMS,  or  those  where  wires  are  permanently  em- 
bedded in  insulating  material  and  incapable  of  being  reached 
except  by  tearing  up  the  streets  and  the  insulation,  have  been 
found  to  work  with  more  or  less-  success.  Many  electricians 
prefer  this  kind  of  underground  service. 

In  the  future,  when  the  uses  of  electricity  become  more  gen- 
eral, and  its  nature  better  known,  it  may  be  that  some  cities 
will  require  a  grand  electrical  underground  highway,  where 
space  can  be  provided  for  the  conducting  and  distributing  of 
sufficient  power  to  run  all  the  engines  and  work  all  the  ma- 
chinery within  the  city  limits.  It  may  be  and  probably  will 
be,  that  before  such  space  is  needed  much  more  will  be  known 
of  the  qualities  of  different  forms  of  electrical  conductors,  and 


224  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

of  the  best  methods  of  carrying  them  underground,  and  that 
the  matter  of  electrical  subways  will  be  no  longer  experimen- 
tal, but  practically  demonstrated  in  every  detail. 

Leaving  out  of  consideration  all  tunnel  systems  as  too  ex- 
pensive, cities  should  also  discard  any  system  which  calls  for 
the  simple  laying  of  insulated  cables  in  the  earth.  They  would 
not  stand  the  chemical  action  of  the  gases  and  acids;  the 
streets  would  be  continually  torn  up  for  new  connections  and 
repairs.  Municipalities  are  thus  shut  up  to  the  question  of 
electrical  subways  or  conduits,  or  solid  material  in  which  the 
wires  or  cables,  insulated  or  otherwise,  must  be  placed,  and 
which  once  laid  down  should  meet  all  the  demands  of  the  pres- 
ent and  near  future. 

MATERIAL. 

As  regards  a  conduit,  the  principal  requirements  are  that  it 
be  cheap,  water-tight,  have  sufficient  capacity,  permit  (without 
disturbing  the  pavement)  the  insertion,  removal  and  addition 
of  wires,  and  allow  access  for  repairs  and  testing.  The  mater- 
ial for,  and  construction  of,  a  conduit  are,  in  a  measure  deter- 
mined by  the  particular  system  of  conductors  it  is  to  carry. 

Various  material  have  been  suggested  for  an  underground 
conduit — iron,  wood  creosoted  or  coated  with  paraffine  or  as- 
phalt, glass,  porcelain,  earthenware  coated  with  asphalt,  stone- 
ware, artificial  stone,  glazed  terra-cotta,  asphalt-coated  terra- 
cotta, paper  saturated  with  asphalt,  and  various  compositions, 
such  as  marble  dust  and  asphalt;  sand,  linseed  oil  and  asphalt; 
sand,  broken  stone  and  asphalt;  sulphur,  sesquioxide  of  iron 
and  bitumen;  sand,  paraffine,  asphalt,  with  the  addition  of  cer- 
tain chemicals,  rosin  and  other  ingredients,  etc.,  etc. 

As  far  as  durability  is  concerned,  wood  properly  treated,  is 
known  to  last  underground  a  great  many  years,  and  could  be 
used  in  the  construction  of  a  conduit.  Creosoted  wood  is,  how- 
ever, injurious  to  gutta  percha  covered  wires.  Earthenware  or 
terra-cotta  covered  pipes  have  been  used  in  England,  and  if 
glazed  or  coated  with  asphalt  and  well  jointed  to  exclude  mois- 
ture, could  be  used  for  underground  service.  Glass  and  porce. 
lain  are  expensive  materials.  Asphalt  saturated  paper  could  be 
used  for  the  lining  of  passages  in  some  forms  of  underground 
conduit.  Artificial  stone  moulded  into  a  oontinuous  conduit  is 


UNDERGROUND     LINES.  22& 

cheap,  and  one  of  this  kind- was  laid  in  1881,  in  Market  street,. 
Philadelphia.  Some  is  to  be  laid  in  Boston.  In  this  conduit 
tin  tubes  covered  with  asphalt  are  imbedded  in  the  artificial 
stone. 

Terra-cotta,  thoroughly  coated  with  asphalt,  is  a  cheap  mater- 
ial, and  when  protected  by  an  outer  box  or  covering  of  creo- 
soted  wood  is  adapted  for  an  underground  conduit  of  the  usual 
form.  It  is  unaffected  by  changes  of  temperature,  there  is  lit- 
tle or  no  difficulty  in  securing  and  maintaining  tight  joints,  and 
if  properly  coated  with  asphaltum,  it  is  indestructible. 

An  idea  of  the  extraordinary  complication  in  which  this 
whole  matter  of  selection  is  involved,  may  be  gained  from  the 
statement  that  there  are  nearly  600  different  plans  of  electrical 
underground  conductors. 

Solid  conduits  are  claimed  to  be  satisfactory  in  some  cities 
and  are  being  generally  experimented  with.  When  once  a  wire 
or  cable  so  bedded  becomes  imperfect,  it  must  be  abandoned  and 
can  never  be  replaced  without  digging  up  the  whole  bed,  and  no 
new  wires  or  cables  can  be  introduced  when  needed  without  lay- 
ing a  new  bed  or  reopening  the  streets,  so  that  the  owner  must 
insert,  once  and  for  all,  the  whole  number  of  conductors  he 
thinks  ho  may  need  at  any  future  time,  thus  incurring  a  great 
and  oftentimes  unnecessary  outlay  of  capital. 

The  laborer's  pick  has  been  one  of  the  great  objections  to 
any  cement  or  tiling  system,  and  it  is  now  nowhere  seriously 
considered,  except  it  be  placed  under  the  sidewalks. 

The  New  York  Board  of  Electrical  Control,  after  a  careful 
examination  of  the  plans  submitted,  and  after  considering  all 
the  facts,  recommended  an  asphaltic  concrete;  but  it  also  rec- 
ommended the  most  rigid  testing  and  inspection  of  the  conduit 
while  being  manufactured  and  laid,  and  the  exacting  of  guar- 
antees from  the  manufacturers  that  their  work  would  stand  cer- 
tain tests.  In  a  certain  sense  municipal  bodies  can  afford  to 
be  liberal  in  allowing  the  electric  companies  to  use  any  kind 
of  insulated  conductors  they  prefer,  but  certain  rules  should 
be  laid  down  that  will  insure  the  exclusion  of  untried  and  ex- 
perimental compounds,  which,  should  they  fail,  will  cause  the 
frequent  reopening  of  conduits  and  cause  inconvenience  and 
trouble. 


226  UNDERGROUND     LINES. 

WHAT    AVILL  CITY  COUNCILS  DO  ? 

If  a  city  should  decide  that  arc  light  wires  can  be  success. 
fully  operated  underground,  the  questions  to  be  met  are,  will  the 
city  compel  the  several  electrical  companies  to  put  their  wires 
underground  indiscriminately;  will  it  exercise  supervision  over 
the  private  conduits;  or,  will  it  build  a  conduit  into  which  its 
own  wires  and  the  wires  of  all  companies  can  enter  on  payment 
of  a  rental. 

In  a  general  way  there  are  four  parties  in  interest  in  this 
matter — the  people,  the  city,  the  companies  operating  electric- 
al conductors,  and  the  company  which  builds  the  conduit  and 
rents  it,  if  such  a  plan  should  be  adopted  by  concurrence  of 
the  electrical  companies.  The  interest  of  the  people  is  identi- 
cal with  the  duty  and  interest  of  the  city,  in  that  the  wires 
shall  be  placed  underground  speedily,  safely,  and  without  de- 
teriorating from  the  efficiency  of  the  electrical  service  as  it  is 
at  present.  The  interest  of  the  companies  is  bounded  by  the 
cost  and  trouble  of  changing  from  an  overhead  to  an  under- 
ground system,  of  maintenance  when  so  changed,  in  securing 
such  facilities  as  they  may  need  on  fair  and  impartial  terms, 
and  in  being  guaranteed  against  interference  with  their  con- 
ductors and  the  impairment  of  their  efficiency.  The  interests 
of  the  construction  company,  if  one  there  be,  is  in  securing  a 
fair  return  for  the  investment  made  in  carrying  out  the  plan 
of  the  city. 

The  cost  of«  establishing  the  present  overhead-wire  system 
has  been  excessive,  and  this  expense  will  be  practically  a  loss 
to  the  companies  when  the  system  is  abandoned  and  the  wires 
are  placed  underground,  so  that,  in  considering  the  subject 
equitably,  city  authorities  should  have  an  eye  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  capital  invested  under  their  jurisdiction,  as  well  as 
to  the  safety  of  life  and  property. 


llNCE  this  book  has  been  in  press  the  suit  at  law 
referred  to  on  page  112  has  been  determined  by 
the  decision  of  Judge  Gresham,  who  held  adversely 
to  the  claims  of  Mr.  Brush  and  in  favor  of  the 
Jenney  Company,  which  was  the  defending  party. 
The  case  will  doubtless  go  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States. 

Another  important  judicial  decision  affecting  electric  light- 
ing interests  has  been  given  since  this  book  was  placed  in  the 
printer's  hands.  It  is  that  of  Judge  Wallace,  in  the  United 
States  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York,  and 
affects  the  carbon  filament  in  the  incandescent  lamp.  The 
court  held  that  Mr.  Edison  had  allowed  his  foreign  patent  to 
lapse  and  that  therefore  he  could  not  prevent  the  United 
States  and  other  companies  from  making  the  lamps.  This  case 
will  also  doubtless  go  to  the  Supreme  Court  for  final  adjudica- 
tion. 

Frederick,  Md.,  has  decided  to  purchase  the  Thomson-Hous- 
ton plant  located  there  at  a  cost  of  $14,500. 

The  Board  of  Gas  Trustees  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  have 
recommended  that  a  plant  be  purchased  at  a  cost  of  about 
$23,000. 

Trbana,  O.,  has  contracted  with  the  Fort  Wayne  Jenney 
Company  for  an  arc  and  incandescent  plant. 

Edison  street  lamps  are  used  in  Oskaloosa,  la.,  Peru,  111., 
Olney,  111.,  Monmouth,  111.,  Seattle,  W.  T.,  Tacoma,  W.  T., 
Attica,  Ind  ,  Pendleton,  Ore.,  and  Brockton,  Mass.,  in  addition 
to  the  cities  named  in  the  contract  system. 

Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  Conshohocken,  Pa.,  Peekshill,  N.  Y., 
Plainfield,  N.  J.,  Salem,  O.,  Stapleton,  N.  Y.,  Torrington, 
Conn.,  Tyler,  Texas,  and  Tyrone,  Pa.,  are  lighted  by  the 
Westinghouse  system  of  incandescent  lamps. 


fo 


PAGBS 

American  Conduit  and  Construction  Co.,  Boston  19 

American  Tool  and  Machine  Co.,  Boston 34 

Ansonia  Brass  and  Copper  Co.,  New  York 18 

Babcock  &  Wilcox  Co.,  New  York 237,  238 

Bishop  GuttaPercha  Co.,  New  York 10 

Brady,  T.  H.,  New  Britain,  Conn 353 

Brush  Electric  Co.,  Cleveland 355 

Callender  Insulating  and  Waterproofing  Co.,  New  York 12 

Campbell  Electrical  Supply  Co.,  Boston 344 

Central  Electric  Co.,  Chicago 2 

Clark  Electric  Co.,  New  York 5 

Cleveland,  W.  BM  Cleveland 342 

Cleverly  Electrical  Works,  Philadelphia 31 

Detroit  Electric  Tower  Co.,  Detroit 354 

Eastern  Electric  Cable  Co.,  Boston 16 

Eclipse  Wind  Engine  Co.,  Beloit,  Wis 16 

Electrical  Accumulator  Co.,  New  York 348 

Electrical  Construction  Co.,  Chicago 15 

Electrical  Review,  New  York 341 

'Electrical  Supply  Co.,  Chicago cover 

Excelsior  Electric  Co.,  Chicago 336 

Fort  Wayne  Jenney  Electric  Light  Co.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind 17 

Greeley,  E.  S.  &  Co.,  New  York 23 

Globe  Gas  Light  Co.,  Boston 334 

Harrisburgh  Car  Mfg.  Co.,  Harrisburgh,  Pa 250 

Hartford  Dynamic  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn 12 

Heisler  Electric  Light  Co.,  St.  Louis 339-233 

Heine  Safety  Boiler  Co.,  St.  Louis 6 

Holmes,  Booth  &  Haydens,  New  York 15 

Hooven,  Owens  &  Rentschler  Co.,  Hamilton,  Ohio 8 

Hussey  Re-Heater  Co.,  New  York 22 

Jarvis  Engineering  Co.,  Boston 30 

Jenney  Electric  Co. ,  Indianapolis cover 

Lane  &  Bodley  Co.,  Cincinnati 245 

Light,  Heat  and  Power,  Philadelphia 246 

Main  Belting  Co.,  Philadelphia 25 

Mather  Electric  Co.,  Manchester,  Conn 14 

Modern  Light  and  Heat,  Boston 234 

Moore,  Alfred  F.,  Philadelphia 19 

Muckle,  M.  R.  Jr.  &  Co.,  Philadelphia 248 

Munson  &  Co.,  Chicago 239 

National  Iron  Works,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J  333 

National  Pipe  Bending  Co.,  New  Haven,  Conn 21 

New  York  Electrical  Construction  Co.,  New  York 256 

Non-Magnetic  Watch  Co..  New  York 240 

Noye,  John  T.  &  Co.,  Buffalo,  New  York 353 

Otis  Bros.  &  Co..  New  York 10 

Parker-Russell  Co.,  St.  Louis 16 

Payne,  B.  W.  &  Sons,  Elmira,  New  York 3 

Pearson,  W.  B.,  Chicago 13 

Pond  Engineering  Co.,  St.  Louis 11 

Queen,  Jas.  W.  &  Co.,  Philadelphia 334 

Rider  Garbage  Furnace  Co.,  Pittsburgh 251 

Russell  &  Co.,  Massillon,  Ohio 5 

Santley,  W.  R.  &  Co.,  Wellington,  Ohio 5 

Sawyer- Man  Electric  Co.,  New  York 18 

Schieren,  Charles  A.  &  Co.,  New  York 23 

Schuyler  Electric  Co.,  Middletown,  Conn 24 

Smith,  Jesse  M.,  Detroit 244 

Solar  Carbon  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Pittsburgh 248 

Standard  Carbon  Co. ,  Cleveland 242 

Standard  Underground  Cable  Co.,  Pittsburgh 3 

Stellar  Electric  Co.,  Boston 244 

Tatham  &  Bros.,  Philadelphia 243 

Terre  Haute  Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.,  Terre  Haute,  Ind 235 

Thomson- Houston  Electric  Co. ,  Boston 7 

United  States  Electric  Lighting  Co. ,  Chicago 1 

Van  Depoele  Electric  Mfg.  Co.,  Chicago 4 

Waterhouse  Electric  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn 9 

Western  Electric  Co.,  Chicago cover 

Western  Electrician,  Chicago 247 

"Westinghouse  Electric  Co.,  Pittsburgh 349 


229 

MUNICIPAL  LIGHTING 

By  Low  Eesistance  Incandescent,  of  any  Desired 
Candle  Power,  Connected  in  direct  Series, 

HEISLEB  SYSTEM. 

It  is  an  acknowledged  fact  among  Experienced  Electricians  and  is  beginning  to  be 
generally  recognized  by  Municipal  Authorities  and  the  people  at  large  that  Street 
Lighting  can  be  done  much  more  effectively  by  the  Incandescent  System  than  by  Arc 
Lighting,  for  the  reason  that  while  the  Arc  Lamps  light  up  a  limited  area  more  bril- 
liantly than  the  Incandescent  Lamps  do,  the  latter,  by  reason  of  the  great  number 
that  can  be  maintained  at  the  cost  of  an  Arc  Lamp,  will  afford  a  much  better  distri- 
bution of  Light. 

The  comparative  cost  to  municipalities  of  Arc  and  Incandescent  Lamps  being  8 
or  10  to  one,  it  needs  no  argument  to  demonstrate  that  from  eighty  (80)  to  one  hun- 
dred 100)  Incandescent  lamps  would  give  a  very  much  more  uniform  distribution  of 
light  over  a  given  territory  at  the  same  cost  than  ten  (10)  Arc  lamps. 

If  one  hundred  (100)  Incandescent  lamps  were  placed  two  hundred  (200)  feet  apart 
in  a  given  territory,  the  Arc  Lamps  that  could  be  obtained  at  the  same  cost  to  cover 
the  same  area  would  have  to  be  placed  from  sixteen  hundred  (1600)  to  two  thousand 
(2000)  feet  apart. 

The  glow  lamps  of  the  Heisler  System,  by  reason  of  their  superior  brilliancy  are 
particularly  adapted  to  Street  Lighting,  as  they  are,  so  far  as  brilliancy  is  concerned, 
small  Arc  Lamps . 

In  cities  having  their  streets  lighted  by  gas,  the  difference  between  the  amount  of 
illumination  obtained  at  the  same  cost  from  gas  lamps  and  the  Heisler  Glow  Lamps 
is  still  more  marked. 

One  Heisler  Lamp  of  thirty  (30)  C.  P.  will  light  a  street  intersection  much  more 
brilliantly  than  two  ordinary  gas  lamps,  while  the  one  Heisler  lamp  can  usually  be 
famished  at  or  near  ihe  cost  of  a  single  gas  lamp,  as  they  are  usually  sold  in  small 
cities. 

The  practically  unlimited  distance  to  which  the  current  can  be  carried  by  the 
Heisler  System  renders  it  available  for  lighting  country  towns  and  sparely  settled 
districts,  where  Electric  Lighting  by  any  other  system  would  be  simply  impossible. 

The  following  estimate  of  the  cost  of  a  plant  with  a  capacity  of  five  hundred  20 
C.  P.  lamps  has  been  prepared  from  a  plant  actually  put  up,  and  in  connection  with 
the  statement  of  the  income  that  it  will  earn  (based  on  a  scale  of  charges  below  the 
average)  and  the  accompanying  estimate  of  running  expenses,  shows  what  may  be 
done  in  towns  that  can  only  afford  a  plant  of  moderate  cost,  and  will  prove  interest- 
ing reading  to  investors. 

Estimated  cost  of  installing  a  plant  with  a  capacity  of  500-20  C.  P.  lights  with 
seven  miles  of  Street  and  Commercial  circuits  and  steam  plant  complete: 

Electrical  apparatus  set  up  complete $6,500  00 

Line  wire  put  up  complete  and  all  connections  made 1,650  00 

Steam  plant  complete 2,600  00 

Total $10,65000 

Add  to  above,  cost  of  ground  and  building  for  Central  Station,  which  will  vary 
with  each  locality.  Cheap  ground,  however,  can  be  used  as  the  station  can  be  es- 
tablished in  the  outskirts  of  a  town  where  land  is  cheap,  or  water  power  can  be 
utilized  if  miles  away. 

The  above  plant  will  earn,  at  rates  below  the  average,  as  follows: 

160  Street  Lights  at  $20  per  annum $2,000  00 

300  Commercial  Lights  to  10  o'clock,  at  $15  per  annum 4,500  00 

100  Commercial  Lights  to  1  o'clock,  at  $18  per  annum 1,800  00 

Total $8,30000 

A  liberal  estimate  of  the  cost  of  running  the  above  plant  per  annum  will  be  as 
follows: 

Wages— Engineer,  Lineman  and  Superintendent $2,000  00 

Fuel,  oil  and  waste 850  00 

Renewals  of  lamps    70000 

Taxes,  insurance  and  incidentals 200  00 

Total ..  $8.750~00 


HEISLER  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO., 

S09-817  South  Seventh  Street,        -        ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


230 


The  above  man  shows  the  distribution  of  Incandescent  Lights  on  the  streets  of  the  Villages  of 
Matteawan  and  Fiehkill  Landing,  on  the  Hudson  River,  50  miles  from  New  York. 

Eighteen  miles  of  street*  illuminated. 

One  hundred  and  sixty  16  candle  power  Gas  Lamps,  costing  $30  to  $3i  per  post  per  year,  have  been  re- 
placed with  Incandescent  Lamps  of  20  and  30  C.  P.  at  $20  to  825  per  year  apiece. 

This  plant  was  started  on  the  first  of  September,  18s7,  with  160  street  lamps,  which  proved  so  satisfac- 
tory to  the  Municipal  Authorities  that  they  soon  gave  an  additional  order  for  50  lights  to  the  owner  of  the 
plant,  Mr.  William  Carroll. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1887,  Mr.  f  arroll  started  a  commercial  circuit  and  soon  had  all  the  lights  con- 
tracted for  that  a  second  and  third  machine  would  carry. 

The  motive  power  lor  450  30-C.  f.  lights  is  supplied  from  one  Turbine  wheel  of  65-H.  P. 

HEISLER  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO., 

809-817  South  Seventh  Street,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


231 


Municipal  fighting 

By  Low  Resistance  Incandescent, 

Of  any  Desired  Candle  Power, 

Connected  in  Direct  Series. 

HEISLER  SYSTEM. 


Eeasons  why  the  Heisler  System  of  Electric  Lighting 
is  Superior  to  all  Others, 


Combining  successfully  the  illumination  of  streets  with  the  universal  supply  of 
incandescent  light  to  every  private  house,  suitable  to  comply  with  all  the  various 
demands  of  commercial  and  domestic  life  by  the  most  perfect  Automatic  regulation, 
with  every  facility  for  changing  and  shifting  the  circuits,  or  extending  the  same  to 
any  desired  distance,  at  very  small  cost,  this  system  has  made  Central  Station 
Lighting  a  practical  success . 

The  remarkable  financial  success  that  has  attended  the  adoption  of  the  Heisler 
System  proves  this;  twenty-four  Central  Stations  erected  in  one  year,  all  being  on  a 
paying  basis. 

Every  single  plant  erected  so  far  on  the  Heisler  System  is  a  success  financially, 
and  making  money.  This  can  be  truthfully  said  of  no  other  system. 

The  electrical  current  can  be  carried  to  any  desired  distance,  with  the  loss  of  only 
one  30-C.  P.  light  to  every  three  ^  ohms  of  line  wire  resistance  (about  one  30-C.  P. 
light  per  mile)  This  makes  the  length  of  line  practically  unlimited.  Circuits  of 
fifteen  to  twenty  miles,  and  even  more,  having  been  constructed  for  lighting  the 
streets. 

Water  power  located  miles  away  can  be  used  to  advantage,  the  power  in  some  of 
pur  plants  being  located  over  five  miles  from  the  lamp  distribution.  This  is  simply 
impossible  with  any  other  system . 

It  is  the  only  practical  mode  of  Central  Station  Incandescent  Lighting,  combining 
the  illumination  of  streets,  stores  and  dwellings  with  15,  20,  30,  45  and  60  C.  P.  lamps 
on  a  single  wire. 

The  machines  require  very  little  attention,  do  not  spark  nor  heat,  and  run  at  a 
speed  of  only  600  to  800  revolutions.  No  extra  high  speed  engines  are  therefore 
required. 

Our  system  is  not  multiple  series  nor  multiple  arc,  and  lamps  are  not  run  in 
groups,  as  is  the  case  in  multiple  series  incandescent  lighting  circuits.  Any  single 
light  can  therefore  be  turned  on  or  off  without  turning  on  or  off  the  whole  group. 

The  lamps  are  connected  on  one  wire  in  series.  Shifting,  changing,  or  extending 
the  circuits  is  therefore  simply  a  matter  of  splicing  on  additional  wire.  No  expert 
is  needed  to  make  mathematical  calculations  on  the  size  of  the  conductors,  and  any 
ordinary  workman  can  be  taught  to  handle  our  lines  successfully. 

Any  given  number  of  lamps  can  be  placed  with  economy  at  any  point  along  the 
circuit. 

The  farthest  lamp  from  the  dynamo  burns  just  as  bright  as  the  lamps  in  the 
station. 

The  candle  power  of  our  lamps  remains  constant  and  uniform.  The  lamps  give  a 
brilliant  white  light,  remain  perfectly  bright  during  their  whole  life-time,  and  the 
globes  do  not  get  blackened  on  the  inside  as  all  the  high  resistance  lamps  do. 


HEISLER  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO., 

809-817  South  Seventh  Street,    -   ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


232 


Municipal  Lighting 

By   Low   Resistance   incandescent, 

Of  any  Desired  Candle  Power. 

Connected  in  Direct  Series. 

HEISLER  SYSTEM. 


Reasons  why  the  Heisler  System  of  Electric  Lighting  is  Superior  to  all  Others. 


We  guarantee  the  life  of  the  lamps  to  average  800  hours.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
their  life  runs  from  1,000  to  1.200  hours,  as  shown  by  reports  from  parties  using  our 
system.  The  report  of  the  St.  Louis  Illuminating  Co.,  for  March,  1888,  gives  the 
average  life  of  lamps  at  1,135  hours. 

Our  light  commands  a  higher  market  price  than  any  other,  being  perfectly  white, 
of  great  brilliancy  and  unvarying  steadiness,  and  is  much  the  superior  of  any  other 
Incandescent  light. 

Our  system  is  not  hampered  with  those  numerous  devices  which  complicate  the 
service  without  ever  fulfilling  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  made,  such  as  safety- 
catches,  shunt  boxes,  converters,  accumulators,  distributors,  etc.,  as  none  of  them 
are  necessary  to  it. 

Seven  to  thirty  C.  P.  lights,  or  two  hundred  and  ten  (210)  C.  P.  to  the  H.  P.  is 
guaranteed,  being  about  one-third  more  than  is  obtained  by  any  other  system  of 
Incandescent  lighting.  This  insures  much  greater  economy  of  operation. 

A  single  wire  only  of  No.  8  B.  and  S.  gauge  is  used  for  main  line  circuits.  This 
insures  greater  economy  of  construction. 

It  is  a  low  resistance  system,  the  lamps  requiring  an  Electro-motive  force  of  only 
10  to  12  volts,  as  against  50  to  100  volts  of  the  high  resistance  system.  This  insures 
economy  of  power. 

The  dynamos  can  be  handled  with  impunity  when  running  under  a  full  load,  there 
being  only  45  volts  at  the  brushes.  This  insures  safety  in  handling. 

The  Automatic  Regulator  is  connected  directly  with  the  steam  plant.  It  is  conse- 
quently powerful  and  reliable  under  all  conditions  of  loading.  It  is  entirely  auto- 
matic, the  Regulator  adjusting  the  current  exactly  to  the  number  of  lights  burning 
in  the  circuit,  without  any  attention  whatever.  This  insures  against  carelessness  of 
attendants . 

In  judging  of  the  candle  power  per  H.  P.  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  other 
systems  have  to  insert  resistance  whenever  lamps  are  turned  out  or  filaments  broken. 
We  reduce  the  current  itself  in  accurate  proportion  to  the  number  of  lights  on  the 
machine. 


use, 


The  power  required  is  therefore  directly  proportioned  to  the  number  of  lights  in 
8,  and  is  reduced  as  lights  are  turned  out.     This  saves  coal. 


The  principal  plants  of  the  Heisler  System  are  at  the  following  places: 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Ogden  City,  Utah. 
Eugene  City,  Ore. 
Albany,  Ore. 
El  Paso,  Tex. 
Monticello,  Minn. 
Liberty,  Mo. 
Bast  Portland,  Ore. 
Fayetteville,Ark. 


Leave  nworth,;Kans . 
Pendleton,  Ore . 
Napa,  Cal. 
Wabash,  Itid. 
Johnstown,  N.  Y. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 
Kingman,  Kans. 
Salem,  Ore. 
Ocean  Grove,  N.  J. 


Ottawa,  l£ans. 
Matteawan,  N .  Y . 
Saugerties,  N.  Y. 
Orange,  N.  J. 
Vincennes,  Ind. 
Mankato,  Minn. 
Fergus  Falls,  Minn . 
Red  Bank,  N.  J. 
Hackettstown,  N.  J. 


HETSLER  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO., 

809-817  South  7th  Street,    -    ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


233 


WATER  TDBE  STEAM  BOILERS 


gafe 


From  Disastrous  Explosions 


(MOORE'S  SYSTEM.) 


gconomical 

In  Every  Respect. 

Durable 

In  All  Their  Parts. 

EASILY  CLEANED 

and  EXAMINED. 


QUR    Special     Method    of    Construction    enables    us    to    erect    our 
Boilers    in    places,    when,    on   account   of  limited   space,  TITBU- 
L.ARS,  OP  those  of  other  styles,  COUL.D  NOT  BE  ERECTED. 

Reference*  and  further  Information  furnished  on  Application. 

MANUFACTURED  BY  THE 

National  Water  Tube  Boiler  Co. 

NEW  BRUNSWICK,  N.  J. 

The  STANDARD  ROCKING  GRATE  BAR 


EVERY  LEAF 
REMOVABLE 

FROM 
THE  MAIN 

BAR. 


Air  Space  Adjnstefl  for  ALL  KINDS  OF  FUEL. 


WRITE  FOR   CIRCULARS,  REFERENCES 
AND  PRICES  TO 

NATIONAL  IRON  WORKS 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 


GREATEST 
ECONOMY 
IN 

THE  USE  OF 
FUEL. 


234 


The  only  Weekly  Electrical  Newspaper  in  New  England, 


MODERN  LIGHT  & 


PUBLISHED  EVERY  THURSDAY. 

Devoted  to  the  interest  of  Electricity,  Gas,  Fuel  Gas, 
Heat  and  Power, 


OFFICIAL  ORGAN  NEW  ENGLAND  ELECTRIC  EXCHANGE. 


Subscription,  -        -        $3.OO  per  Annum 

"  Foreign  Countries,  4.OO     "  " 


Advertising  rates  furnished  on  application,  address 

MODERN  LIGHT  &  HEAT, 
178  Devonshire  St.,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

STANDARD  ELECTRICAL  TEST  INSTRUMENTS. 


Ayston  &  Perry's 
New  Spring  Amme- 
ters and  Voltmeters, 
Edelmann,Hartmann 
&  Brown's  Galvano- 
meters,Bridges,Rheo- 
stats.  Also,  by  all  the 
prominent  makers. 
Call  and  examine. 


JAS.W.QUEEN&CO. 


OKCESSTHSTTJT?    ST., 


Isaac  Stebbins,  Prest. 


S.  Wheeler,  Treas. 


D.  W.  Lee,  Gen'l  Mgr 


Street  Lilting  lij  Contract 

The  Globe  Gas  Light  Company 

OF    BOSTON. 

Incorporated  1874. 

Contractors  for  Lighting  Streets  of  Cities  and  Towns 

Constantly  on  hand  their  celebrated  GLOBE  NAPHTHA  in  barrels  and  cans. 

Also  full  assortment  of  MILL,  LAWN  and  STRKKT  LANTERNS, 

LAMP  POSTS,  KLAMBEAUX,  or  VAPOR  TORCHES  to 

VAPORIZE  OIL,  NAPHTHA  or  GASOLINE. 

LANTERNS  FOR  HOTELS   AND   PRIVATE  GROUNDS. 
Please  call  and  Examine. 

Office  and  Warerooms,  77  &  79  Union  Street,  BOSTON. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


HAMMERSTEIN'S 

ADJUSTABLE 


(Patented  June  29,  1886.) 


It  can  be  adjusted  to  vary  the  height  of 
the  lamp  from  the  ground.  The  method  of 
operating  is  so  simple  and  speedy  that  one 
man  can  trim  100  double  arc  Janaps  in  a  day. 
We  have  210  of  these  in  use  in  lighting  the 
streets  of  this  city,  covering  a  territory  of  35 
squares  north  and  south,  by  20  squares  east 
and  west.  Two  men  cover  this  ground  a  d 
trim  the  entire  210  double  lamps  every  day. 
They 'extend  the  lamp  22  to  28  feet  from  the 
street  corner,  thus  placing  the  lamp  at  the 
intersection  of  the  four  corners,  giving  good 
light  in  four  directions.  Shady  streets  are  no 
obstacle  where  these  supports  are  used,  as 
the  lamp  can  be  set  low,  if  necessary,  and 
throw  the  light  under  the  trees.  They  can  be 
used  under  any  line  of  telephone  or  telegraph 
wires  with  20  inches  of  space  above.  They 
will  not  freeze  up  in  sleety  or  snowy  weather 
as  is  t  he  case  when  blocks  and  pulleys  are  used  for  sus- 
pending street  lamps.  No  step  ladders  or  windlass 
used.  We  believe  them  o  be  the  simplest,  the  safest 
aud  the  best  on  the  market.  Prices  quoted  on  appli- 
cation. Address 

TEBBE  HAUTE  ELECTBIC  LIGHT  4  POWEE  CO., 
TERRE  HAUTE,  INDIANA. 

Reference. —City  Terre  Haute,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.; 
Brazil  Electric  Light  Co..  Brazil,  Ind.;  Crawfordsrule 
Gas  and  i  ight  Co.,  Crawfordsville,  Ind.;  Washington 
GM  Co..  Washington,  Ind  :  Brush  Electric  Light  Co., 
Owensr.oro,  Ky.:  Twin  City  Gas  Co.,  La  Salle,  111.; 
W.  F.  McKimey.  i  hampaign,  111.;  Merchants'  Electric 
Co.,  Danrille,  111.;  Belvidere  El.  i  o.,  Belvidere,  I1L 


L 


A- 


AN  ARC  LAMP  SUPPORT. 


236 


Excelsior  Electric  Co. 


HOGHHAUSEN  SYSTEM, 


COMPLETE  SYSTEM 

-  BOTH  - 


Aw 

iUy 


ELECTRIC  LIGHTING. 


Municipal  Lighting 


A   SPECIALTY. 


PERFECT 


AUTOMATIC 


REGULATION 


Guaranteed  to  cut  down  to  one  Light,  saving 

power  in  proportion  to  the  number 

of  lights  burning. 


Catalogue  and  Full  Information 

FURNISHED  ON  APPLICATION. 


Lights  Perfectly  Steady. 
Free  from  Hissing  and  Flickering.  H 


EXCELSIOR  ELECTRIC  CO. 

11  IScLst  Adams  Street, 
CHICAGO,  -  -  ILL. 


237 


THE  BABCOCK  &  f  ILCOI  BOILER 


*i  i  *<  I 


THOS.  A.  EDISON,  Orange.  N.  J.,                                                             Aug.,  1887, 
EDISON  MACHINE  WORKS,  Schenectady,  N.  Y              1st  order,  Jan.,  1881,  I 

3 

5 

219 

448 

do                    do                                                     3d      do    Sept.,  1887,  » 

T±^rO 

EDISON  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  Paris,  France,                                June,  1881. 

1 

15O 

do                    do                 London.  Eng.,             1st  order,  June,  1881,  | 

2 

soo 

do                    do                          do                       2d  .    do     June,  1^-',  *i 

Ovr  v 

do                    do                 Milan,  Italy,                 1st      do     Aug.,  1882,  1 
do                    do                        do                         5th     do      Feb.,  1887,  f 

8 

1312 

do                     do                 Livorno,  Italy,                               Sept.,  1887, 

3 

438 

EDISON  LAMP  CO.,  Newark,  N.  J.,                                    1st      do     June,  1886,  {. 

do                     do                                                       2d       do      July,  1886.  ) 

281 

EDISON  ELECTRIC  ILLUMINATING  CO.,  New  York,  1st      do     Sept.,  1881,  [ 

O  £t  O  f\ 

do                    do                                       do          8d      do      Dec.,  1887,  f 

L4 

SSOifU 

do                     do                      Lawrence,  Mass.,  1st      do     Sept.,  1883,  f 

do                    do                                  do              3d      do     April,  1884,  i 

2iO\j 

do                     do                      Fall  River,  Mass.,                      Oct.,  1883, 

2 

146 

do                     do                      Shamokin,  Pa.,                         June,  1883, 

2 

146 

do                     do                      Hazleton,  Pa.,                            Nov.,  1883, 

1 

92 

do                     do                      Belief  onte,  Pa.,      1st  order,  Nov.,  1883,  > 

do                    do                             do                    «d      do      May,  1885,  f 

J.  O^ 

do                     do                      Tiffin,  Ohio,                                Nov.,  1883, 
do                    do                     Middletown,  Ohio,  1st     do      Dec.,  1883,  i 

1 

92 

do                    do                             do                    2d     do     Aug.,  1884,  f 

J.  43 

do                    do                      Piqua,  Ohio,                            March,  1884, 

1 

92 

do                     do                      Circleville,  Ohio,                      April,  1884, 

I 

92 

EDISON  CO.,  FOR  ISOLATED  LIGHTING,  Washiogton,  D.  C.,       April,  1884, 

2 

164 

do                     do                      N.  Y.  Herald,  N.  Y.  City,        Nov.,  1881, 

1 

150 

WESTERN  EDISON  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  Chicago,  111.,              July,  1882, 

1 

4O 

U.  8.  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  New  York,                           1st  order,  Feb.,  1880,  » 

O  00 

do                                      do                                     3d       do      Dec.,  1880,  f 

Stool 

do                                  Philadelphia,  Pa.,                               March,  1885, 

1 

208 

do                     Weston  Factory,  Newark,  N.  J  ,  1st  order,    Oct.,  1880,  > 

5 

389 

do                                 do                       do             4th,    do     Sept.,  1887,  { 

BRUSH  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO..  Philadelphia,  Pa.,                            July,  1881, 

4 

300 

BRUSH-SWAN  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  Auburn,  N.  Y.,                   Sept.,  1885, 

1 

60 

ELECTRIC  CLUB,  New  York,  N.  Y.,                                                     June,  1887, 

1 

74 

HARLEM  LIGHTING  CO.,  New  York,  N.  Y.,                                       Sept.,  1887, 

1 

300 

WESTINGHOUSE  ILLUMINATING  CO..  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,          Oct.,  1887, 

2 

292 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO..  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Jan.,  1888, 

2 

365 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  Washington,  D.  C.,                                  1887, 

1 

82 

BUCYRUS  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,Bucyrus,  Ohio,                          June,  1887, 

1 

85 

ST.  JOSEPH  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  c6.,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  1st  order,    July,  1883,  > 

1  O9 

do                       do                                    do          2d      do     Aug.,  1884.  * 

X  \J  £ 

SIR  GOUTS  LINDSAY  &  CO.,  Grosvenor  Gallery,  London,  Eng.,       Oct.,  1886, 
CARDOGAN  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  London,  Eng.,                          Oct.,  1887, 

4 
2 

956 
208 

THE  SCHMIDT-DOUGLASS  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO.,  Limited, 

Huskegate.  Bradford.  Eng.,                                                      2  orders,  1887. 

2 

235 

RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  BRYANT,  Dorking.  England,                           Sept.,  1885, 

2 

25 

RESIDENCE  OF  LORD  ROTHSCHILD,  Tring  Park.  Herts,  Eng.,  June,  1887, 

1 

6O 

ELECTRICITEITS  MAATSCHAPPY,  SYSTEM  DE  KHOTINSKY, 

Rotterdam,  Holland,                                                                          Oct.,  1884, 

2 

164 

COMPAGNIE  FRANCAISE  L'ECLAJRAGE  ELECTRIQUE, 

Paris,  France,                                                                                   Sept.,  1887, 

2 

382 

E.  LAMY,  P.  RIEU  &  CO.,  Mende,  France.                                         June,  1887, 

2 

122 

A  GILLIBERT  &  CO..  Marseilles,  France,                                            Oct.,  1887. 

2 

220 

80CTETE  PER  1'ILLUMINAZIONIE  ELETTRICA,  Palermo,  Italy,  Sept.,  1887, 

2 

164 

VIENNA  OPERA  HOUSE,  VIENNA,  Austria,                                      Nov.,  1887, 

6 

744 

FRANCISCO  DE  LA  VIESCA,  Cadiz.  Spain,                    1st  order,  Sept.,  1886,  > 

1  09 

do                        do                 do                              2d      do      April,  1887,  f 

1.  \J  & 

CAMEL  A  G.  LAG  AN  A,  Palermo.  Sicily,                            1st  order,  Sept.,  1886,  ) 

2 

122 

do                                  do                                  2d     do      Aug.,  1887,  { 

NEW  YORK,  30  Cortlandt  St,     GLASGOW ,  SCOTLAND,  107  Hope  St, 


BOSTON,  Mass., 8  Oliver  Street 

PHILADELPHIA,  Pa./  -  -  32  North  5th  Street 
CHICAGO,  ni.,  -  -  -  45  South  Jefferson  Street 
NEW  OSLEAJfS,  La.,  -  -  57  Carondelet  Street 


LONDON,  England,  -  -  -  114  Newgate  Street 
MANCHESTEB,  England,  -  3  Victoria  Building 
PAEIS,  France,  -  -  -  -  20  Boulevard  Voltaire 
HAVANA,  Cuba,  W.  I.,  116}*  Calle  de  la  Habana 


THE  BABCOCK  &  WILCOX  BOILER. 

The  Result  of  20  Years'  Experience  on  350,000  Horse  Power, 

MECHANICAL  CONSTRUCTION. 

The  Babcock  &  Wilcox  Boiler  consists  of  a  plain  cylinder  boiler,  serving  as  a 
steam  and  water  reservoir,  placed  above  and  connected  at  each  end  with  a  nest  of 
inclined  heating  tubes  also  filled  with  water.  The  rear  and  lower  end  o'f  these  tubes 
is  connected  to  a  mud-drum  at  the  point  furthest  removed  from  the  fire.  The  heat 
is  applied  to  one-half  of  the  cylinder  and  all  the  tube  surface. 

Dry  steam  is  made,  and,  therefore,  no  superheating  surface  is  necessary. 

Every  square  inch  of  the  boiler,  inside  and  out,  is  in  sight,  and  accessible  for 
mechanical  cleaning  through  a  manhole  in  the  cylinder,  handholes  in  the  mud-drum, 
and  handholes  having  milled  faces  opposite  each  end  of  every  tube  for  the  interior, 
and  through  cleaning  doors  in  the  walls  for  the  exterior  surfaces. 

All  joints  between  the  several  parts  are  made  by  expanding  tubes  into  taper 
seats,  and  increased  pressure  tends  to  increased  tightness. 

OPERATION. 

The  boiler  setting  forms  a  furnace  in  which  all  the  heating  surfaces  are  envel- 
oped by  the  hot  products  of  combustion  as  they  rise  from  the  grates  situated  under 
the  front  and  highest  end  of  the  tubes,  passing  at  right  angles  across  them  three 
times  and  once  under  the  whole  length  of  the  cylinder,  before  being  discharged 
into  the  stack,  at  a  greatly  reduced  temperature. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  heat  is  transferred  to  the  water  during  the  first  pas- 
sage of  the  gases  across  the  tubes  and  while  combustion  is  being  completed  in  the 
triangular  chamber  under  the  cylinder. — these  being  properly  fire-box  surfaces. 
The  remaining  heat  is  taken  up  during  the  second  and  third  passes  across  the  tubes, 
which  act  as  economizers. 

As  the  water  inside  the  tubes  becomes  heated,  a  mingled  stream  of  steam  and 
water  is  discharged  into  the  front  end  of  the  cj'linder  above,  where  the  steam  grad- 
ually separates  from  the  water,  the  latter  flowing  to  the  rear  end  of  the  cylinder  and 
down  again  into  the  tubes,  making  a  rapid  and  continuous  circulation  of  all  the 
water  in  the  boiler,  keeping  all  parts  at  a  uniform  temperature,  and  avoiding  strains 
from  unequal  expansion.  This  rapid  circulation  also  serves  to  sweep  away  the 
steam  bubbles  from  the  heating  surfaces  as  fast  as  formed,  supplying  their  place 
with  water,  thus  increasing  the  efficiency  of  the  surface,  it  also  serves  to  carry  any 
sediment  contained  in  the  water  into  the  mud-drum  at  the  rear  and  lowest  point  in 
the  boiler,  from  whence  it  can  be  blown  out. 

The  steam  is  taken  out  at  the  top  of  the  steam  drum  at  the  rear  end. 


THE  BABCOCK  &  WIL.COX  WATER-TUBE  BOILER 

has  all  the  elements  of  safety,  in  connection  with  its  other  characteristics  of  economy, 
•durability,  accessibility,  etc.  Being  composed  of  wrought  iron  tubes,  and  a  drum  of 
comparatively  small  diameter,  it  has  a  great  excess  of  strength  over  any  pressure 
which  it  is  desirable  to  use.  As  the  rapid  circulation  of  the  water  insures  equal 
temperature  in  all  parts,  the  strains  due  to  unequal  expansion  cannot  occur 
to  deteriorate  its  strength.  The  construction  of  the  boiler,  moreover,  is  such,  that 
should  unequal  expansion  occur  under  extraordinary  circumstances,  no  objectional 
strain  can  be  caused  thereby,  ample  elasticity  being  provided  for  that  purpose 
in  the  method  of  construction. 

In  this  boiler,  so  powerful  is  the  circulation,  that  as  long  as  there  is  sufficient 
water  to  about  half  fill  the  tubes,  a  rapid  current  flows  through  the  whole  boiler;  but 
if  the  tubes  should  finally  get  almost  empty,  the  circulation  then  ceases  and  the 
boiler  might  burn  and  give  out;  by  that  time,  however,  it  is  so  nearly  empty  as  to  be 
j-ucapable  of  harm  if  ruptured. 


239 


Charles  Munson  Belting  Co. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


We  gladly  testify  to  the  superiority  of  the  MTTNSON  EAGLE  and 
DYNAMO  BELT.  The  stretch,  otherwise  than  the  elasticity  is  re- 
moved, no  rivets  and  perfect  evenness  in  heft.  The  result,  noiseless 
and  with  a  steady  motion,  which  is  absolutely  essential  for  a  steady 
light.  We  use  no  other  make.  The  character  and  responsibility  of 
the  house  is  unquestioned. 

CHICAGO  EDISON  LIGHT  CO Chicago. 

THOMSON-HOUSTON  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO Chicago . 

S.  A.  BARTON,  Gen'l  Manager. 

BRUSH  ELECTRIC  CO Chicago. 

ALEX.  KEMP.  Special  Agent. 

EXCELSIOR  ELECTRIC  CO Chicago. 

F.  W.  HORNE,  Western  Manager. 
MATHER  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO Chicago. 

ST.  JOE  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  AND  POWER  CO St.  Joe,  Mo. 

J.  A.  CORBY. 
NATIONAL  ELECTRIC  CONSTRUCTION  CO 42  La  Salle  Street,  Chicago. 

EDISON  LIGHT  CO. . .  . .  .New  Orleans,  La. 

WM.  OSWALD,  Agent. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  we  are  pleased  to  refer  to  the  following  more  recent 
customers: 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  LIGHT  CO Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

THOMSON-HOUSTON  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO Omaha,  Neb . 

ST.  PAUL  GAS  AND  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO St.  Paul,  Minn. 

CHICAGO  ARC  LIGHT  AND  POWER  CO Chicago. 

LEONARD  &  IZARD  CONSTRUCTION  CO Chicago. 

CALIFORNIA  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CO San  Francisco,  Cal. 

LOUISIANA  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  AND  POWER  CO New  Orleans,  La. 

CHAELES  MUNSON  BELTING  CO,, 
28,  30,  32,  34,  36  South  Canal  Street,     CHICAGO. 


>  AN    FRANCISCO, 

20  &  31  Spear  Street. 


PITTSBURGH, 

204  Smithfield  Street. 


240 


NON-MAGNETIC 


(PAILLARD'S    PATENTS.) 

HESE  Watches  contain  Paillard's  Patent  Non- 
Magnetic    Compensation    Balance    and     Hair 
Spring,  and  have  Non-Magnetic  Escapements. 

They  will  not  stop  or  be  in  any  way  affected  by 
Magnetism,  even  when  placed  in  actual  contact  with 
dynamos  or  powerful  electro  magnets. 

Every  Watch  is  adjusted  to  temperature,  and  for 
durability,  construction,  finish,  and  time-keeping 
qualities,  are  unsurpassed. 

Endorsed  by  Prof.  Edison,  Elihu  Thomson,  Prof. 
Edwin  J.  Houston,  N.  S.  Possons,  and  others. 


FOR  SALE  BY  ALL  LEADING  JEWELERS. 


241 

The  Standard  Electrical  ^Periodical. 

•  •   THE  •  • 

Electrical  Review 

Published  Every  Week  at 

13  PARK  ROW,  NEW  YORK. 


The  most  complete  and    Reliable  Electrical  Journal   in  the  World. 

It  is  a  publication  of  character  ;  able,  impartial,  progressive.  Graph- 
ically Illustrated.  PRICE,  $3.OO  per  year,  in  advance. 

In  the  Completeness  and  value  of  its  Electric  Light  News  'and 
Information  it  is  Unequalled. 

CEO.  WORTHINGTON,  EDITOR.  CHAS.  W.  PRICE,  ASSOCIATE  EDITOR. 


What  our  Contemporaries  say  of  the 
ELECTRICAL    REVIEW: 

Its  editorial  utterances  hare  been  able,  independent  and 
fearless,  and  it  has  disseminated,  regardless  of  cost,  the  in- 
vestigations and  experiments  of  the  best  minds,  and  faith- 
fully and  intelligibly  chronicled  each  step  of  progress  made 
jn  electrical  research. — Modern  Light  and  Heat. 

Its  typographical  appearance  and  the  excellence  of  irs 
illustrations  are  far  in  advance  of  any  publication  issued, 
either  in  this  country  or  in  Europe — not  excepting  the  Illus- 
trated London  News,  nor  Graphic. — Boston  Commercial. 

The  ELECTRICAL  REVIEW  inaugurates  its  thirteenth 
volume  with  a  new  cover  from  which  advertising  matter  is 
banished.  In  this  it  sets  an  example  to  the  more  distinct- 
ively literary  publications.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  its 
interior  evinces  corresponding  evidences  of  taste. 

—  N.  Y.  Herald. 


The  REVIEW  is  a  well  edited  and 


able  paper. 

-N.  Y.  Tribune. 


One  of  the  most  valuable  and  most  instructive  and  inter- 
esting journals  of  the  day  is  the  ELECTRICAL  REVIEW, 
published  weekly  in  this  city.— X.  Y.  Sun. 

It  appreciates  and  practices  progress. 

— American  Machinist. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  management 
of  the  New  York  ELECTRICAL  REVIEW  for  the  lavish 
manner  in  which  their  Journal  is  got  up  for  the  attraction 
of  students  of  our  fascinating  science. 

— London  Telegraphist. 


Electrical  Review  Patent  Bureau.' 

We  conduct  a  general  business  in  the  preparation  and  prosecution  of  Applica- 
tions for  Patents,  in  the  United  States  and  all  Foreign  Countries. 

Electrical  Patents  a  Special  Feature. 

All  business  receives  the  direct  personal  supervision  of  the  Manager,  whose 
fourteen  years'  experience  as  Patent  Attorney,  and  seven  years  as  Practical  Electri- 
cian, insures  thorough  and  satisfactory  work. 

Communications  are  strictly  confidential. 

T.  J.  McTIGHE,  Mangr. 

Send  for  our  New  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Electrical  Books. 


242 


ic  Light  Sit- 


GANG    BWITCHES, 

From  5  to  40  Amperes. 

Qtticfc  Mafce  and  BreaK,  Uncontrolled  by  Handle. 

COBBESPONDENCE   FBOM   ELECTEIC   LIGHT   COMPANIES   SOLICITED. 


FOREST  CITY  ELECTRIC  WORKS, 

W.  B,  CLEVELAND,  Electrical  Engineer, 
183   Seneca  Street,  -        -         CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 


DE3 


STANDARD  CARBON  COMPANY, 


MANUFACTURERS    OF 


Electric  Light  Carbons 

FOR  EVERY  SYSTEM  OF 

ELECTRIC  LIGHTING, 


-A.X.SO 


CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  U.  S.  A. 


243 


MANUFACTURERS    OF- 


\ 


;•:*•>". 

•     •        •  * 


62-Wire  Anti-Induction  104-Wins  Anti-Induction 

Telephone.  Telephone. 


10-Wire  Telegraph. 


LEAD-ENCASED  ELECTRIC 


2- Wire. 


72-72  Stranded  Elec- 
tric Light. 


19- Wire  Telegraph. 


7-12  Stranded  Elec- 
tric Light. 


226  &  228  So.  Fifth  Street, 


Special  attention  given  to  the  manufacture  of  UNDERGROUND 
ELECTRIC  LIGHT  CONDUCTORS,  insulated  with  TATHAM'S 
PATENT  COMPOUND,  combining  the  HIGHEST  INSULATION 
with  FLEXIBILITY,  SMOOTH  FINISH,  UNIFORMITY,  CON- 
TINUITY and  SUPERIORITY  OF  CONSTRUCTION. 


244 


JESSE  M. SMITH, 


86  MOFFAT  BLOCK, 


Consultation  on  all  Mechanical  and  Electrical  Questions. 
Plans  and  Specifications  for  Power  and  Electrical  Plants. 

Tests  of  Engines  and  Electrical  Apparatus  for  Economy 
and  Efficiency. 

Inspection  of  and  Reports  on  Existing  Plants. 
Expert  Witness  in  Patent  Suits. 

THE  STELLAR  ELECTRIC  CO. 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

THE  STELLAR  ELECTRIC  LAMP. 

This  Company  manufactures  INCANDESCENT  ELECTRIC  LAMPS  solely.  It  is 
the  only  company  in  the  United  States  whose  business  is  confined  to  this  industry 
alone.  It  has  no  affiliation  with  any  special  electric  lighting  system,  but  is  prepared 
to  furnish  lamps,  of  superior  quality,  for  any  or  all  systems. 

Its  special  claims  are:  Unsurpassed  Brilliancy,  Great  Strength  of  Fila- 
ment and  Lone:  Life,  Undiminished  Candle  Power  while  iu  Use,  and 
tbe  Highest  Efficiency. 

3.  K.  BAYLEY,  General  Manager, 

Offices,  13  Doane  Street,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

THE  VULCAN  WIRE 


FOR  THE 


ELECTRIC  LIGHT,  TELEPHONE  AND  TELEGRAPH. 

Manufactured  and  Sold  by 

The  Campbell  Electrical  Supply  Co., 

95  MILK  ST.,  BOSTON,  MASS. 


246 

[LIGHT,  HEAT  AND  POWER  !  May  its  Lierht  continue  to  illume  the  minds,  its  Heat  to  warm  the 
hearts,  and  its  Power  to  draw  into  closer  fellowship  the  lighting1  fraternity.  Let  its  Light  be  as 
sunshine  to  the  growing  grain  of  inquiry,  its  Heat  consume  the  chaff  of  charlatanry,  and  its 
Power  garner  the  ripe  fruit  of  honest  investigation.  EMERSON  MCMILLAN.] 


LIGHT,  HEAT  AND  POWER 

THE  INDEPENDENT  GAS  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICA. 


PUBLISHED  SEMI-MONTHLY  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 


LIGHT,  HEAT  AND  POWER 

Is  the  only  Independent  Journal  in  this  Country  especially  devoted  to 

the  Gas  Industries.     It  is  newsy,  and  aims  to  give  a  digest  of 

events  in  the  gas  world  as  they  occur,  without  prejudice. 


It  is  the  only  Gas  Journal  giving  due  attention  to  the  developments  of 
the  Natural  Gas  Interests ;   and  the  only  one  in  which  can 
be  found  or  had,  fres  discussion,  or  honest  presen- 
tation, of  the  Great  Questions  of  Fuel   Gas, 
from   standpoints   without   bias. 


It  is  the  only  technical  journal  in  America  that  has  consistently  and 
persistently  advocated  the 

UNION  OP  G-AS  AND  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING  INTERESTS, 


It  has  no  Personal  Axe  to  Grind ;   no  interests  to  advocate  save  those 
of  the  general  gas  public. 


In  the  matter  of  circulation,  this  journal  claims  only  what  it  has;  a  larger  gene- 
ral circulation  than  that  of  any  other  gas  journal  published  in  this  country,  and  the 
best  circulation  among  the  legitimate  Gas  Industries  of  America. 

SUBSCRIPTION  :— United  States  and  Canada,  $3.00  per  year  in  advance  (post- 
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tered  Letter. 

ADVERTISING  TERMS  :— One  rate,  made  known  on  application. 


LIGHT,  HEAT  AND  POWER, 
413  Walnut  Street,       -      -       PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


247 


PUBLISHED    WEEKLY 


6     LAKESIDE     BUILDING, 

CHICAGO 

THE  ONLY  ELECTRICAL  JOURNAL  PUBLISHED  IN  THE  WEST. 


THE  WESTERN  ELECTRICIAN    is   the   handsomest,   brightest 
and  best  Electrical  Journal  in  the  world. 

Its   descriptive   articles    and    illustrations    cover    the    new 
inventions  of  America  and   Europe. 

It  is  replete  with  the  electrical  news  of   the  day.        f 

Its   engravings   and    illustrations  are  the  handsomest   pub- 
lished in  any  Electrical  Journal. 


SEND  $3.00  AND  TRY  IT  FOR  A  YEAR. 


Municipalities,  Cit.v  Councils  and  Corporations  desir- 
ing to  advertise  for  bids  for  Electrical  Apparatus,  will 
find  the  WESTERN  ELECTRICIAN  the  very  best  medium. 


Address: 

litest  em  glectrician, 

6    LAKESIDE  BUILDING, 

CHICAGO. 


248 


ELECTRICAL  ACCUMULATORS 

—  )OIR(  - 

STORAGE  BATTERIES, 


Central  Station  Lighting,  Isolated  Lighting, 
Railroad  Car  Lighting,     Long  Distance  Lighting 
Street  Car  Propulsion,  &c, 

THIS    SVSTEM    ASSURES 

Certainty  of  Light,   Steadiness  of  Current,  Economy  in 

Kunning  Expenses,  Extension  of  Life  of  Lamps, 

Continuity  of  the  Electric  Service, 

AND   CONSEQUENTLY 

THE  COMPLETE  DISPLACEMENT  OF  GAS, 

For  Fall  Particulars  address, 

THE  ELECTRICAL  ACCUMULATOR  CO., 


J.  B.  YOUNG,  Prest.  and  Treas.  B.  K.  JAMISON,  Vice-Prest. 

SOLAR  CARBON  AND  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

Butting  Plates,  .         v^  Patented. 

Office,  Room  69  Scmidt  I  Friday  Building,      "PITTSBURGH,  PA. 

M.  R.  MUCKLB,  JR.  T.  CARPENTER  SMITH.  JOHN  S.  MUCKLB. 

M.  R.  MUCKLE,  JR.  &  CO., 

608  Chestnut  Street,       PHILADELPHIA.  PA. 
Consulting  and  Contracting  Mechanical  and  Electrical  Engineers. 

Steam  and  Electric  Lighting  Installations,  Isolated  and  for  Central  Stations. 

Most  complete  system  of  Underground  Conduits  for  Electrical  Con- 
ductors and  House  Distribution. 

WRITE  FOR  DESCRIPTIVE  CIRCULAR. 


249 


GKO.  WBSTINOHOUSE,  JPM  Prest. 
H.  M.  BTLLKSHY.  Vice-Prest. 

and  General  Manager. 


JOHN  CALDWBLL,  Treasurer. 
A.  T.  Row  AND,  Secretary. 
W.  L.  McCumum,  Auditor. 


WESTINGHOUSE 


Electric  Company 


PITTSBURGH,  PA.,  U.  S.  A. 


250 


THE  IDE  ENGINE 

THE  MOST  SIMPLE,  DURABLE  AND  ECONOMICAL 

AUTOMATIC  CUT-OFF  ENGINE 


References    furnished 
from  the  most  suc- 
cessful  Electric 
Light   Plants 

in  the 
United  States. 


Medal   and   Highest 
Award  from  Frank- 
lin Institute,  of 
Philadelphia, 
Pa. 


Weitmyer  Patent  Furnace 

FOR  BURNING  CHEAP  FUEL,  SCREENINGS,  &C, 


MANUFACTURERS  of  BOILERS  OF  ALL  KINDS  and  CONTRACTORS 
FOR  COMPLETE  STEAM  PLANTS. 


MANUFACTURED   BY 


FOUNDRY  and  MACHINE  DEPARTM'T 

Harrisburgh  Car  M%.  Company, 


251 

L.  P.  RIDKR,  President.         W.  T.  WALLACE,  Treasurer.        W.  E.  PATRICK,  Secretary. 

Office,  No.  B2  Fifth  Avenue, 
Capital  Stock.  $500,000.  PITTSBURGH,  PA. 


(LIMITED.) 


MANUFACTURERS    OF   THE 


Eider  Garbage  Furnace 

FOR  CREDITING  THE  REFUSE  OF  CITIES. 


It  can  be  profitably  used  in  connection  with  Electric 
Light   Plants. 


BOARD  OF  HEALTH  ENDORSEMENT. 

PITTSBURGH,  PA.,  January  31.  1888. 
To  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN: 

Having  contracted  with  the  Rider  Garbage  Furnace  Company  of  this  city,  to- 
f urnish  and  build  one  of  their  thirty  (30)  ton  Garbage  Furnaces  for  the  use  of  our 
ciry.  which,  being  completed  and  having  given  it  some  three  months'  trial,  we  have 
acL-epted  and  paid  for  it.  We  are  prepared  to  say  about  this  furnace:  It  has  far 
exceeded  the  contract,  having  destroyed  fiftv-four  (54)  tons  of  garbage  in  24  hours, 
thus  surpassing  our  most  sanguine  expectations  We  add,  further,  that  no  other 
furnace  has  ever  made,  so  far  as  we  know,  such  a  record  here  or  elsewhere,  as  this, 
one  has  in  the  destruction  of  garbage,  and  therefore  we  strongly  recommend  its  use 
by  other  cities  as  a  good  sanitary  measure. 

(  DR.  J.  C.  DUNN,  President.  W' 

Bosrd  of  Health: \  DR.  J.  D.  THOMAS,  Secretary. 
\  CROSBY  GRAY,  Health  Officer. 


WRITE  FOR  PARTICULARS. 


252 


253 


Improved  Mast  Arm 


The  Simplicity  of  Construction,  Durability,  Cheapness 

and  Ease  and  Quickness  of  Working, 

has  given 


i 


The  Premium,  as  the  Best  Arm  in  the  Market. 


HOODS  >  STORM  PROTECTORS 

A  T  LO  WEST  RA.  TES. 


Address, 

T. 


NEW  BRITAIN,  OONN.,  U.  S.  A. 


254 

Detroit  Electric  Tower  Go, 

DETROIT,  MICHIGAN. 

Descriptive  Catalogue  and  Prices  Furnished  on  .Application, 

We  make  all   Styles,  both   Straight  and  Tapered,  but  recommend  for  all 

purposes  our 

STANDARD  TOWER, 


after  large  experience. 


Specially  devised  for  CIT*Y 
BECAUSE— 

1.  IT    OCCUPIES    ONLY  THE 
SPACE  OF  A  LAMP  POST. 

2.  CHILDREN  CANNOT  CLIMB 
UPON  IT. 

3.  IT     HAS     AN     ELEVATOR 
FOR  LAMP  TRIMMER. 

BRUSH  Co.,  DETROIT,  1888:  "It  is 
just  the  thing  for  cities  and  towns. 
Unlike  the  spread  tower  it  occupies 
only  the  space  of  a  lamp  post  at  a 
street  corner.  We  are  greatly  an- 
noyed by  boys  climbing  upon  our  one 
tapered  tower,  but  they  cannot  climb 
upon  the  Standard  Tower. 

4.  LIGHTS     ALLEYS,     BACK 
YARDS  AND  ALL  SPACES. 

5.  IS     PROOF     AGAINST 
STORMS  AND  EARTHQUAKES. 

BRUSH  Co..  DETROIT,  1888:  "We 
have  used  1*J  Standard  Towers  for 
four  years  past,  and  although  the  city 
has  been  several  times  subjected  to 
storms,  the  most  severe  in  its  history, 
not  a  cent's  worth  of  damage  by  the 
elements  has  ensued  to  any  of  them. 
Have  never  had  to  tighten  a  joint  or 
apply  a  tool  to  any  of  them." 

EVANSVILLE,  IND.,  AFTER  CYCLONE 

1884  :  "  Houses  blown  down,  trees  by 
the  hundred  taken  out  by  the  roots, 
not  even  a  ro<i  bent  on  any  of  the 
towers,  they  defy  all  elements  com- 
bined.1' 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  AFTER  EARTHQUAKE 
1886  :  "I  found  on  a  close  examina- 
tion that  the  paint  had  not  started  on 
any  of  the  couplings  ;  that  there  was 
no  indication  of  any  strain  whatever, 
and  the  same  in  regard  to  all  parts  of 
the  towers." 

6.  MOST   EFFICIENT    SYS- 
TEM, BETTER  AND  CHEAPER 
THAN     ELECTRIC     POLE     OR 
INTERSECTION  LIGHTS,    GAS 
OR  NAPHTHA. 

MAYOR  OF  DETROIT,  1887:  "The 
tower  system  I  think  comes  nearer  to 

fulfilling  the  requirements  of  efficiency  and  economy  than  any  mode  of  street  light- 
ing yet  introduced.  Pole  lights  at  intersections  are  not  a  success.  We  now  have  122 
towers  with  four  lights  each,  and  I  believe  they  illuminate  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as 
much  space  as  four  thousand  single  lights  would." 

COUNCIL  BLUFFS,  IOWA,  1887:     "Fine,  as  good  as  moonlight."     "An  unqualified 
success."    "  A  grand  success." 

The  Towers  of  this  Company  are  now  used  in  about  Thirty  Cities. 
DETROIT   ELECTRIC   TOWER   CO., 


255 

G.  W.  STOCK.LT,       -  -       President. 

J.  J.  TRACY,  Vice-Prest.      J.  POTTKR,  Trea--  N.  S.  Possoxs,  Supt. 

WM.  F.  SWIFT,  Sec'y.  S.  M.  HAMILL,  JR.,  Ass't  Sec'y.  W.  J.  POSSONS,  Ass't  Supt. 


THE 


OF   CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 

MANUFACTURERS    OP 

BRUSH  ARC 


INCANDESCENCE 

ELECTRIC 

Lighting  Apparatus. 

ELECTRIC  MOTORS. 

Carbons  for  Arc  Lamps,  Etc.,  Etc. 


256 


Globe  Carbon  Co 


,  o 


CARBONS 

FOR 
ELECTRIC 

LIGHTING. 
BATTERIES, 
MOTORS, 
ETC. 


WE  BEAT 
THE  WORLD 

FOR 

BRILLIANCY, 
STEADINESS, 

AND 
LONGEVITY. 


o~onR 

IF   THEY   DO    NOT    PROVE    SATISFACTORY,   YOU    EIAY 
HOLD  SAME  SUBJECT  TO  OUR  ORDER. 


Chas.  A.  Cheever, 
Prest. 


Willard  L.  Candee, 
Treas. 


TRADE"        MARK. 


The  Okonite  Company 

13  PARK  ROW,  NEW  YORK, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 


For  AERIAL,  SUBMARINE  and  UNDERGROUND  USES. 


Sole  Manufacturers  of  the  Celebrated  OKONITE  TAPE 

The  only  Absolute  and  Safe  Waterproof  and  Insulating  Tape 
in  the  Market. 

AGENTS  AT  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Chicago,  Minneapolis,  Kansas 
City,  Cincinnati  and  Louisville. 


257 


Pn 

uu 


242  &  244  East  122d  St., 


AHDREff  L.  somiRJ,  President.  r.  e.  CARTWRISHT,  sijt.  of  Consiractioa. 

JOHH  H.  HAPGOOD,  Vim-President.  BED.  H.  REVNOLCS,  ConsnMnj  Enzineer. 

E.  F.  AMES,  Secretary.  «.  M.  SLATTERY,  Consnltis?  Electrician. 


-FOR    THE- 


INSTALLATION  OF  AIL  ELECTRICAL  PLiNfS 


ESTIMATES    FURNISHED 

For  Electric  Light  and  Steam  Plants  Complete, 


SEJSTID 


Estimates  Promptly  Furnished  for  Erecting  Electric  Lighting 
Plants  for  Cities,  Companies  or  Individuals. 


umiiiiiim;  ummiim 

EIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIillllllllllllllllllllUE 


ELEiTiliMifflPANY 


©fiicago. 


Reoo 


R  I 


I  Electric  Ipnj  Apparatus 


UR  SYSTEM   OF   ELECTRIC    LIGHTING 
IS    COMPLETE     IN    EVERY    DETAIL, 
AND  IS  UNEXCELLED  IN  THE  EFFI- 
CIENCY   AND    WORKMANSHIP    OF     THE 
APPARATUS,    IN    THE    BRILLIANCY, 
STEADINESS  AND  COLOR  OF  THE  LIGHT 
PRODUCED,    AND     IN     AUTOMATIC 
REGULATION.       WE    FURNISH    DYNAMOS 
TO  GIVE  ANY  REQUIRED  CURRENT. 

The  high  grade  of  workmanship  and  the  efficiency 
of  our  Dynamos  render  them  especially  advantageous 
for  charging  Storage  Batteries,  furnishing  current  for 
Electric  Motors,  etc.  We  furnish  Arc  Lamps 
adapted  to  any  Arc  Current.  The  superior  construc- 
tion and  simplicity  of  our  Lamp  render  its  use 
advantageous  with  any  system. 

We  manufacture  and  deal  in  all  kinds  of  Electrical 
Apparatus  and  Supplies  for  FIRE  and  POLICE  service. 


illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllHIHllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllH 


i 


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